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DAVID S. MAYNARD 



a An 



Catherine T. Maynard 

BIOGRAPHIES 

OF TWO OF THE OREGON 
IMMIGRANTS of 1850 



THEIR BIRTHS — EVENTS OF THEIR EARLIER YEARS IN VERMONT, OHIO 
KENTUCKY AND ILLINOIS— DIARY NARRATIVE of JOURNEY ACROSS 'he 
CONTINENT— WITNESSES OF AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE BEGIN- 
NINGS OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY — RESIDENCE AT OLYMPIA 
—THEIR MARRIAGE — REMOVAL TO SEATTLE— FOUNDING 
AND NAMING A CITY— ITS DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH 
— LOTS NOW WORTH $40,000, $60,000 AND $80 000 SOLD 
FOR $5, $10 AND $20— A PHYSICIAN, A MERCHANT 
A FISHERMAN, A TEAMSTER, A BLACKSMITH 
A FARMER, A LAWYER, A JUDGE, A TOWN 
BUILDER, ALL IN ONE— COURT EX- 
PERIENCES IN 1853 -'54- '55 -'56— 
WAR WITH THE INDIANS — 
LIFE AMONG the SAVAGES 
— the GUARDIANSHIP 
AND HELP OF A 
FRIENDLY 
CHIEF— 
A 
DANGEROUS CANOE TRIP — A HOME ON THE FARM- 
LOSS OF A DONATION LAND CLAIM— DEATH OF 
DR. MAYNARD — HIS CHARACTERISTICS — 
A WIDOW SINCE 1873 —HISTORIC 
PIONEER FIGURE. 



By THOMAS W. PROSCH, 

SEATTLE, 1906. 



Lowman & Hanford Stationery & Printing Co 
Seattie. Washington 




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DR. DAVID S. MAYNARD IN 1865. 



DAVID SWINSON MAYNARD. 




His Birth, Ancestry, Education. 

ARCH 22d, 1808, a child was born at or near the town 
of Castleton, Rutland County, in the State of Ver- 
mont, to whom was given the name David Swinson 
Maynard, the middle name being the family name on the side 
of his mother. The Maynards and the Swinsons were of 
strong American stock. The two families had long been 
acquainted, having lived in the same neighborhood, fought 
in the same wars, educated and reared their children together, 
intermarried, and otherwise associated in the many ways inci- 
dent to the life and times of the eighteenth century, first in the 
British Province and later in the young American possession 
and State in which their lots had been cast. It is related that 
one of the young Maynards and one of the young Swinsons, 
both of whom became progenitors of the boy referred to in 
the opening sentence, were impressed on a British ship, 
commanded by Capt. Burgoyne, at the outbreak of the Rev- 
olutionary war. When they signified their desire to go on 
shore they were forcibly detained, and were told that King 
George needed their services, and intended to have them, 
in putting down the rebellion recently inaugurated by their 
countrymen in Massachusetts and other Colonies. Swinson 
and Maynard counselled together, and at length succeeded 
in leaving the ship in the darkness, with nothing but their 
underclothing, barefooted, getting on land wet, cold and 
all but exhausted. A Scotch woman, who could talk Gaelic 
only, befriended them, and with her help they were enabled 
to reach the camp of General Washington, where both en- 
listed in the Continental army, in which they remained to 
the end of the long struggle then in the days of its beginning. 
David S. Maynard had three sisters. All were educated 
as well as the schools of the day permitted. With the sisters, 
however, this memoir has no more to do. When his course 




6 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

in the schools had been completed, young Maynard began 
the study of medicine. Dr. Woodward was his instructor, 
the boy serving in the doctor's office and giving general help 
while acquiring the information needed for the practise of 
his chosen profession. Upon completing his time and course 
the young physician was given a diploma, and for forty-four 
years following was in more or less active practice. Pre- 
sumably his services were not much sought or richly com- 
pensated in the community where he had been reared, for 
he soon after moved west, settling in Lorain County, Ohio, 
and doing business in and near Cleveland, then a place of 
four or five thousand inhabitants, now a city with one hun- 
dred times as many. 

His Marriage and Life in, Ohio. 

EFORE going to Ohio, tho, the student and doctor 
had adventures and troubles such as usually fall to 
the lot of active, promising young men. In his 
first love affair there was a misunderstanding and a failure. 
The young lady is said to have been most winning and 
lovable. In nowise discouraged, Maynard promptly paid 
court to another girl, and in 1828, on the 28th of August, at 
twenty years of age, he and Lydia A. Rickey were married. 
Shortly afterwards they left Vermont for the place on Lake 
Erie that has since become the seventh city in population 
in the United States. At the new home, a few miles west of 
Cleveland, two children were born to them — a son, Henry 
C, and a daughter, Frances J., who subsequently became 
Mrs. Patterson, and is still living. 

There the couple dwelt more than a score of years. He 
was energetic, and he made efforts and investments in 
various directions. Of these the most notable was the estab- 
lishment of a medical school, in which at one time were one 
hundred and fifty students. With him in this enterprise were 
Doctors Mauzey and Ackley. Beginning about that time 
and extending up to the period of civil war, there was much 
trouble with the currency, and in 1837 occurred a great finan- 
cial crash and crisis, in which the business of the nation was 
rent and broken as never before, the effects upon the people 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 7 

being direful indeed. The banks were nearly all closed, few 
ever again being reopened, and the banks that succeeded 
them for twenty years had smaller deposits than had the 
banks that had failed in 1837. And this while Ohio was rap- 
idly increasing in population. The resultant loss of confi- 
dence, the lack of money and the bad trade conditions 
generally prevalent made it exceedingly difficult for men to 
carry on their commercial undertakings. Especially was this 
true of men like Maynard, who were free and open-handed, 
helpful of others, careless of the morrow, and who were 
heavily leaned upon by acquaintances in the support of their 
schemes. Maynard became responsible for another man to 
the extent of $30,000. The business failed, and in the wreck 
Maynard was financially ruined. It was impossible for him 
there to recover, and he began to look longingly towards 
California as the region of future hope and wealth. In 1849 
there had been a great rush of men by water and land to the 
new region of gold. In this he had been unable to join, but 
he now resolved to be among those who would go the follow- 
ing year. In coming to this determination he was moved also 
by the disaffection of his wife, whose nagging and faultfind- 
ing had become well-nigh unendurable. He collected such 
moneys as he could, simplified his affairs, and fixed his wife 
and two now grown children as comfortably as possible, 
leaving everything to them but the merest pittance. He 
might have gone to California more easily and quickly by 
steamer, but it would have cost him about five hundred dol- 
lars, and he felt that he could not afford it either on his own 
account or that of his family. He believed that he could 
work his way across the continent without money, by making 
himself useful to other immigrants, and that, under the cir- 
cumstances, it was his duty to do this way if he went. 

Interesting Narrative of a Long and Perilous Journey. 

f|F the five months' journey to the Pacific the Doctor 
left account in his diary, which is used in the pages 
following. It was evidently inconvenient to him to 
write, as the daily spaces were small, three to the page, and 
there was much to do on the way, but between the lines 




8 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

and the times much can now be seen and read that does not 
appear in letters and words upon the paper. The first entry 
is that of Tuesday, April 9, 1850, here given: 

Left home for California. Passed through Norwalk to 
Monroeville. Took the cars to Sandusky. Saw a large eagle 
on the prairie. Passage, 75 cents. Paid to Drakeley, $4. Din- 
ner and horsefeed, 75 cents. Total, $5.50. 

There are no more entries until April 20th, at Cincinnati, 
from which it may be inferred that the traveler was about 
eleven days in making the trip across the State from north 
to south, probably on his horse, which he also probably sold 
at Cincinnati. The second and third diary notes are these : 

April 20th. — Left Cincinnati at 4 o'clock on board the 
Natchez. 

April 21st. — Arrived at Louisville at 10. Walked to New 
Albany, in Indiana, a place of about 7,000 inhabitants — 
Lockville. Saw James Porter, the Kentucky giant, 7 2-3 feet. 

The Doctor journeyed on without making notes until the 
middle of May, by which time he had arranged fully for the 
long remainder of the trip. He had a mule, a buffalo robe, a 
gun, a few medicines, his surgical instruments and several 
books. He connected himself with a party, depending upon 
his wits, his professional skill, his talent for doing things, 
his good humor and his general usefulness wherever placed, 
to carry him through to the other shore in safety and reason- 
able comfort. That his ideas were correctly based is well 
known, and to a certain extent are portrayed in the narrative 
following from his own pencil : 

Thursday, May 16. — Crossed the Missouri river at Saint 
Joseph, and encamped. 

May 17. — Left camp about 11 o'clock, and went six miles. 
Passed the snake's den. 

May 18. — Traveled about seventeen miles over the bluffs. 
Very little timber, but good water. 

May 19. — Traveled about eighteen miles. Passed one 
grave. An Indian farm about four miles west of the toll 
bridge kept by the Sac and Fox Indians. Toll, 25 cents. 
Passed one of the most beautiful pictures of country I ever 
saw. Drove the team with Mason. 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 9 

May 20. — Traveled about sixteen miles over beautiful 
rolling prairie. No timber. Passed some new graves. Passed 
one horse and one ox left to die at leisure. 

May 21. — Tuesday. Passed the grave of A. Powers, of 
Peoria County, Illinois, died on the 20th inst., about sixty- 
five miles west of St. Joseph. Traveled about eighteen miles. 
Was called to visit three cases of cholera. One died, a man, 
leaving a wife and child, from Illinois, poor. He lived seven 
hours after being taken. No wood or water secured. 

May 22. — Rainy. Traveled five miles, and came to wood 
and water in plenty. Went on about ten miles further, and 
put out for the night. Fleming and Curtis taken with the 
cholera. Wake all night. Called upon just before we stopped 
to see a man with the cholera, who died soon after. 

May 23. — Curtis and Fleming better, but not able to start 
in the morning. Started at 12, and traveled about six miles. 
Plenty of water three-quarters of a mile north of the road. 
Stopped in camp with Dr. Bemis's company. Heard wolves 
during the night. 

May 24. — Started early. Curtis and Fleming pretty com- 
fortable. Traveled about nineteen miles. Passed the forks 
leading to Independence. Camped at Blue river. One grave, 
child 11 years old. Forded the stream. Raised our loading. 
Got my medicines wet. Boys caught a meal of catfish. Fish 
were large and plenty, and included enough for tomorrow's 
breakfast. 

May 25. — Started at Big Blue river. Took in company 
Samuel J. Hunter. Left the river at half past 3. Another 
grave: Traveled ten miles. 

May 26. — Traveled about five miles and rested. Had cat- 
fish for breakfast. 

May 27. — Went in with John Childs's train of ten wagons. 
At night the company lacked water, having camped on a hill 
away from water and wood. Traveled eighteen miles. Saw 
an antelope. 

May 28. — Late start. Traveled alone, about fifteen miles. 
Plenty of feed and tolerable water. Passed four graves. 
Camped on a dry hill, a few rods from the Childs train. 

May 29. — Started at 6 o'clock, going about eighteen miles. 
Water scarce and poor. Curtis gave the milk away. Went 
without dinner. A drove of buffaloes were seen by a company 
ahead. Left the team and went on ahead. Saw one buffalo 
and one antelope. Took sick with the cholera. No one med- 
dled or took any notice of it but George Moon. 

May 30. — Feel better. Start on foot. Continue to get 



10 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

better. Travel up the Little Blue twenty miles. Wood, water 
and feed tolerable. 

May 31. — Started at 6. Followed up the Blue. Passed one 
good spring. Feed short. Traveled twenty miles. Hunter 
left, and I took the cooking line. 

June 1. — Left the range of the Blue. Traveled twenty 
miles. Saw three antelopes. 

June 2. — Started late. Rode all the forenoon, and read. 
Traveled eleven miles. Put up on the Platte. No wood or 
good water. 

June 3. — Started at half past 6. Traveled five miles to Fort 
Kearney. Saw tame buffaloes. The fort buildings are built 
of wood, brick and mud. The country is flat and rather low. 
Two miles southeast are sandhills in sight. Went about 
twenty-two miles, and fell in with innumerable hosts of immi- 
grants. Rained through the night. 

June 4. — Traveled up the Platte river twenty miles. The 
road was low, level and muddy. The river is about a mile 
wide. At 2 o'clock it began to rain and blow tremendously, 
continuing all night. Camped without a spark of fire or warm 
supper, with our clothes as wet as water. A man died with 
the cholera in sight of us. He was a Mason. 1 was called to 
see him, but too late. 

June 5. — It rains yet. Got as wet as ever in getting the 
team. I got a chance to cook some meat and tea with Dr. 
Hotchkiss's stove. In company with Mr. Stone from Mans- 
field. Have a bad headache ; take a blue pill. Start at 9; 
travel to a creek, twelve miles. 

June 6. — Start at 9. Unship our load, and cross a creek. 
One death, a Missourian, from cholera. Go eighteen miles. 
Pass four graves in one place. Two more of the same train 
are ready to die. Got a pint and a half of brandy. Earn 
$2.20. Left Krill with a dying friend. 

June 7. — Start late. Find plenty of doctoring to do. Stop 
at noon to attend some persons sick with cholera. One was 
dead before I got there, and two died before the next morning. 
They paid me $8.75. Deceased were named Israel Broshears 
and William Broshears and Mrs. Morton, the last being 
mother to the bereaved widow of Israel Broshears. We are 
85 or 90 miles west of Fort Kearney. 

June 8. — Left the camp of distress on the open prairie at 
half past 4 in the morning. The widow was ill both in body 
and mind. I gave them slight encouragement by promising 
to return and assist them along. I overtook our company 
at noon twenty miles away. Went back and met the others 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 1 1 

in trouble enough. I traveled with them until night. Again 
overtook our company three miles ahead. Made my arrange- 
ments to be ready to shift my duds to the widow's wagon 
when they come up in the morning. 

June 9. — Started off in good season. Went twenty miles. 
Encamped on a creek. Wolves very noisy, keeping us awake 
all night. 

June 10. — Traveled eleven miles, and crossed South Platte 
at the lower crossing. Stream three-fourths mile wide, with 
a heavy current. 

June 11. — Traveled twenty-one miles. Waded for wood 
for self and Rider. Got small ash poles. 

Here there is a break in the doctor's journal, there being 
no entries from June 12th to 24th inclusive. This is the only 
omission in the entire journey from Missouri river to Puget 
Sound. It is to be supposed that the troubles were so many 
and the labors so great incident to the peculiar situation in 
which he found himself that he then was unable to keep the 
diary written up as he did before and after the events in con- 
nection with the unfortunate Morton-Broshears party. Seven 
members of the party died there and then, Mrs. Broshears 
losing not only her husband and mother but three other rela- 
tives, and being left is a most forlorn and helpless condition. 
The sympathy and assistance she required from the doctor, 
who subsequently became her second husband, accounts rea- 
sonably for this much to be regretted omission in the narrative. 

Tuesday, June 25. — Started late, in consequence of our 
cattle being lost. When I came in from hunting the cattle the 
company had gone and left us. We drove on to the Bad Hills, 
about eighteen mines, and encamped. 

June 26. — Started from camp in tolerable season, after 
burying Austin Morton. Drove two miles and camped. Feed 
is poor, and plenty of stock to eat it. Took care of the team 
alone. 

June 2J. — George Benton commenced driving the team. 
Went ten miles to Cottonwood Creek; camp there and wash 
up. Feed is good and water excellent. I cannot persuade the 
company to stop half long enough to recruit the team. Parr 
with Fanings & Co. 

June 28. — Finished our washing and took a trip to the 
mountain four miles south. I think this the pleasantest hunt- 
ing ground I ever saw. Team came in at night full and lively. 



12 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

June 29. — Left camp and traveled over to the North Platte 
again. Went ten miles and camped. Feed poor. 

June 30. — Traveled about fourteen miles to the ferry. 
Crossed our teams over, leaving the oxen on the east side. 
Had a serious tramp in carrying supper to the boys, after 
dark, some six or seven miles and back. 

July 1. — Brought teams to the stream to ford. After work- 
ing two-thirds of the day we had nine oxen to ferry across 
at $1 per head. Drove out five miles and camped without 
feed or water. 

July 2. — Traveled over rough hills about twenty miles to 
Willow Springs. Feed poor, water a little touched with alkali. 
Found plenty of saleratus water, by which our teams suflered 
much. 

July 3. — Left Willow Springs, and traveled over barren, 
rough mountains about twenty miles to big creek. No feed. 

July 4. — Left the big creek and went ten miles to Inde- 
pendence Rock. Celebrated a little. Found feed very scarce. 
Rider's hired hand came, and agreed to come on with him. 

July 5. — Dragged the team through sand eight miles to 
Devil's Gate, and turned out and drove team three miles to 
feed. This pass through the rocks of the Whitewater is one 
of the curiosities of nature. Perpendicular height of rocks four 
hundred feet. Width of stream or valley fifty-five feet. 

July 6. — Drove the team to camp and took wagons out to 
grass. Oxen sick; vomiting like dogs. Old Nig looks bad. 
Get better towards night. 

July 7. — Go on a trip to the mountain. See a large panther 
and five antelopes. Got spruce gum and snow. Got into camp 
about 3 o'clock, tired enough. 

July 8. — Started out, and after traveling six miles discov- 
ered a party of Indians coming upon us. We heard they had 
just robbed one train. Prepared for an attack. When within 
half a mile they sent two of their number to see how strong 
we were. After viewing us carefully they left us for good. 
Traveled twentv-two miles. 

July 9. — Left the creek by spells, and traveled through the 
Narrows twenty miles and camped. Bought buffalo meat. 
Kept guard for fear of Mormons. Team comfortably fed. 

July 10. — Traveled in sand all day, and camped without 
water or feed. Came twenty miles. 

July 11. — Started before breakfast, and came eight miles to 
Sweetwater. Stopped, took breakfast, and went on to the 
Sweetwater again, camped ; fourteen miles. 

July 12. — Left Sweetwater and traveled over the ragged 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 1 3 

mountains twenty miles. I was well worn out, as well as the 
team, from watching at night. A miserable company for 
help. 

July 13. — Left the ice spring. Team poorly fed. Traveled 
eight miles to the last of the Sweetwater. Turned out with 
a view to stopping, but the company growled, and we again 
set sail. Went on in search of feed and water until all power 
was exhausted. Team got ahead about five miles. Camped, 
with little feed and no waetr. 

July 14. — Team tolerably fed, but no water. Traveled eight 
miles to Pacific Springs. Watered and filled water cask. 
Wrote a line to Henry (Maynard's son). Paid 50 cents to 
carry it to St. Joseph. I then went ahead in search of feed 
and water. Found some feed but no water, and got no thanks 
from the company for my labor. 

July 15.— Left camp and passed the forks of the roads, the 
left road leading to Salt Lake. Traveled eight miles to the 
Little Sandy. Watered the team, drove three miles more, 
turned out and camped. Drove the team up four miles fur- 
ther for feed. Set things at right about camp, carried supper 
to the boys four miles, washed, changed clothes and slept in 
tent. 

July 16. — Found good feed for team four and a half miles 
from camp, and stayed to rest our teams and wash in the 
waters of Little Sandy. Company growled so much I con- 
sented to start next morning. Found ice in the water bucket 
this morning. 

July 17. — Got under way at 8, and drove twelve miles to 
Big Sandy. I went in search of feed ; tramped about eleven 
miles, and found feed scarce. Returned to camp, and sent 
the boys out with teams to graze all night. The water of the 
Sandy is made of the snow melting on the mountains in sight. 

July 18. — Left camp at 11 o'clock with our water vessels 
all filled, to cross the desert, fifty-three miles, to Green river. 
Traveled all day and night. Dust from one to twelve inches 
deep on the ground and above the top of the wagon cover a 
perfect cloud. Crossed a plain of twelve miles, and then went 
over a tremendous mountain. 

July 19. — Arrived at Green river about noon. Paid $7 per 
wagon for ferrying. Drove out eight miles to grass on a 
branch of Green river. Put cattle in the brush and let them go. 

July 20. — Drove the cattle out to feed. Watched them all 
day myself. George caught four trout, which made us a good 
breakfast. Drove in the team about 10 in the evening. Lion, 
Sam and Bright are sick. 



14 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

July 21. — Company was not willing to feed the team or 
for me to doctor Lion. We therefore start without even water- 
ing team. Came on about four miles and camp. Teams fall- 
ing behind. Went back to learn the cause. Found them too 
weak to travel. Went on and left them. Travel fifteen miles 
to a branch of Green river. 

July 22. — Left camp at 8 o'clock. Found a rough moun- 
tainous road. Traveled to the ten springs among the spruce. 
Feed scarce. Came Fifteen miles. Rain stopped us from going 
further. Rider came up at eve, drove past, and camped in 
sight. Got the tent in which George and I slept. 

July 23. — Climbed mountains at the start. Passed Rider's 
team after they camped. Drove about a mile, and found good 
water and good feed. Went eighteen miles. 

July 24. — Began climbing the mountains at 7, and went 
over the worst ones I ever saw teams encounter. Crossed a 
a branch of Green river. Passed through a beautiful grove 
of spruce and fir. We threw Lion down, and found four or 
five gravel stones in his foot. Came eighteen miles and 
camped, with most excellent water and feed. 

July 25. — Left camp at 6 130, after throwing Lion and doc- 
toring his foot, which Mrs. Broshears, George and myself did 
alone. This day the mountains have capped the climax. 
Crossed Bear river, and traveled down the valley. Find good 
water and the best of feed. The mountains present the grand- 
est display of nature yet seen. Rocks two feet thick stand 
upon edge from thirty to one hundred feet high about four 
or six feet apart. 

July 26. — Left camp at 7. Traveled down Bear river until 
noon. Found excellent feed. Crossed another branch and 
ascended a mountain about three miles, and then turned down 
about one mile almost perpendicularly to the river bottom 
again. 

July 27. — Started out on the Bear river bottom. Traveled 
up the river a north course twenty-four miles. Passed beauti- 
ful springs and plenty of feed. Doctored Lion's foot twice. 
The springs as they make from the mountains form consid- 
erable streams. Indians are plenty. Saw Rider's team some 
three miles astern. 

July 28. — Left camp at 7. Good water, feed and roads. 
Came fourteen miles to sulphur or soda springs. A trading 
post. Springs are a curiosity. Went on about a mile, and fed 
forenoon at an Indian camp. Was called to see a sick pap- 
poose. Sold five pounds of tobacco for $2.50. Went on seven 
miles and camped near an Indian camp. Good feed and water. 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 1 5 

July 29. — Broke camp at 7:30. Teams in good heart. 
Found good roads, feed and water. Traveled sixteen miles 
and crossed the head waters of Bear river. Shot two mountain 
hen, and encamped for the night at a spring. Feed first rate. 
We are just at the foot of a mountain to start with in the morn- 
ing. Stream is too bad to cross. Doctored Lion's foot, and 
fed poor Bright. 

July 30. — Left the waters of Bear river, and struck the 
waters of Louis river. Had rather a rough road, but the best 
of water and wood. Encamped, and was called to visit sick 
with the diarrhoea. He was taken sick in the night, from cold 
and billious condition of the stomach. 

July 31. — Left camp at 7:30. Roads, feed and water tol- 
erable. Got to Fort Hall. Took supper. Found the mos- 
quitoes so bad that it was impossible to keep the oxen or our- 
selves on that spot. Hitched up and came on to the Fort and 
camped in the dust. Watched the cattle until morning. 

August I. — Left Fort Hall at 9. Sold rice, salt, soap to the 
traders ; bought moccasins and one quart of vinegar. Came 
on, and crossed two branches of Lewis river. Traveled eigh- 
teen miles. Camped on a ridge among the sage. Oh, God ! 
the mosquitoes. Drove team up on the bluff to rest. Took in 
George the Second at the Fort. Sick all day and under the in- 
fluence of calomel pills. 

August 2. — Found team where they were when I went to 
bed. Drove them down on the bottom to feed. We had veal 
for breakfast, presented to us by a brother Mason from New 
Orleans. Went eight miles through the sage to a spring, and 
put old Lion out to rest. Started at 2, and made out fifteen 
miles, and encamped for the night. Passed two springs of cold 
water which boiled up so high as to make them a great cur- 
iosity. Passed the American Falls on Snake river. 

August 3. — Started late on Lion's account. Drove two 
and a half miles, and he gave up the ghost. We then harnessed 
Nigger on the lead, and traveled on seven and one-half miles 
down the Snake river, and put out for the night in quite a 
hubbub. George is about to leave us for California. Road is 
bad, full of gullies and rocks. Feed poor, sage brush all the 
way. Plenty of cedar shrubs along the way. 

August 4. — Traveled ten miles over a rough road to Raft 
river, and laid up until Monday (tomorrow) morning. The 
boys caught a plenty of suckers. Rigged Nig's harness. 

August 5. — Started late. Left the tent. Lost our water 
keg. Sixteen miles to water. Very warm. Took up a new 
bag of flour. Started at the forks of the road on the Oregon 



I 6 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

track. Road very stony. Traveled all day through the sage 
and dust. Encamped on a spring run with plenty of feed. 
. August 6. — Left camp early. Traveled eleven miles over 
sage and came to the river where we found plenty of feed for 
our cattle. Stopped three hours. Then went on to Goose 
Creek, eleven miles further, and camped for the night with 
good feed and water. Saw one wolf in the road ahead. Good 
roads today, and water often enough for the cattle. 

August 7. — Stayed in camp and rested our team. Rider 
came up at night. Nigger died. Washed, etc. 

August 8. — Left camp early, and found a very stony road. 
Traveled eighteen miles to Rocky Creek. Found poor feed 
for team. 

August 9. — Traveled eighteen miles to the crossing of Rock 
creek. Got in late. Feed scarce. Were overrun with cattle 
and company. 

August 10. — Traveled fifteen miles to where the road leaves 
the river bluffs. Put out and let our team graze on the bot- 
toms until next day. 

August 11. — Left early, and went over sage nine miles, 
coming to the river again. Then went down the bottom, occa- 
sionally raising over the bluffs, seven miles to Salmon Falls 
creek, then down the creek and river bottom three miles to 
camp. Good feed and water. 

August 12. — Started at 6 :3c Traveled six miles to Salmon 
Falls. Here we camped, and bought salmon of the Indians, 
and refreshed our teams. This place is delightful. The 
stream is alive with fish of the first quality, and wild geese are 
about as tarne as the natives. Soil continues barren. 

August 13. — Left camp at 4 o'clock a.m., and traveled 
thirteen miles to the river again. Here we encamped, laying 
by until tomorrow morning. Had a hard time bringing water 
from the river, the nearest being half a mile distant and up 
one of the worst of bluffs. 

August 14. — Started at 5 in the morning. Climbed a hard 
hill of sand. Came ten miles to river, then left the river and 
came on to it again in three miles, where the old road crosses. 
Then drove down the track three miles and found a good 
camp, and plenty of rattlesnakes. George has been sick all 
day. I have driven the team and am tired enough. 

August 15. — Stayed in camp, aired our clothes, etc. Killed, 
three rattlesnakes. Got information of the route from Govern- 
ment men packing from Oregon City. Watched team all 
night. 

August 16. — Left at 6. Traveled down the river sixteen 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 1 7 

miles and camped. Found good feed, but a stony, hard road. 
The country is as barren as ever. Watched team all night. 

August 17. — Left camp at 6. Came over bluffs, alternately 
touching* the river, ten miles, to where we crossed Boone's 
river. There we stopped, and let our team graze. Feed best 
we have seen yet. Moving on again we came to the river in 
six miles, and encamped. Feed good and team doing well. 
Watched team all night. 

August 18. — Left camp at 8. Came over the bluff and 
down the river eight miles, thence six miles to camp on the 
river bank. Feed very poor for team. Watched them all 
night. Am nearly sick, but no one knows it but myself. 

August 19. — Left camp at 6. Traveled six miles over the 
bluffs to Cade's creek. No feed. Went on two miles further 
and came to bunch grass. At 11 o'clock stopped, and re- 
freshed our animals until 1. Started again and came six 
miles to Burnt creek. Crossed creek and climbed the worst 
of all hills. Went up three times to get our load up. Took 
up old Brandy; overhauled wagon. 

August 20. — Geared the wagon shorter. Threw overboard 
some of our load. Started at 7, with Brandy in Sally's place. 
He stood up for about three miles, when down he came, and 
we unyoked him and Polly and moved on with three yoke of 
cattle. Stopped at 11:30 and rested the team. Started at 1, 
and went over to the river, making 14^ miles this day. Found 
good feed and rested self and team. 

August 21. — Cut off the wagon bed and again overhauled. 
Started at 8, and hurried along 6^2 miles down the river to 
a spring, camping at noon. Good feed and plenty of com- 
pany. Laid by and rested team. Bought salmon of Indians. 
Left this morning a distressed family who were without team 
or money and nearly sick from trouble. 

August 22. — Left camp at 6. Came three miles to river, 
and then down same eleven miles to camp. Left Brandy and 
Polly to die on the road. Found feed tolerable, but water 
scarce as soon as we were away from the river. 

August 23. — Left camp at 6, and traveled to next camp, 
on Snake river. 

August 24. — Left camp at 7. Went six miles and turned 
out to water and rest our teams. Put Polly in with Bright, 
and left Buck. Got loaded and started at 1. Came to Auhihie 
(Owyhee) river. Here we found excellent feed for team, and 
laid up until next evening. Ducks and sage hens are very 
plenty. 

August 25. — Laid in carrm with team. I went to the fort, 
four miles, to get more teams, but found none there. Re- 



18 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

turned at noon. Cut off more of the wagon bed and brought 
the wheels closer together. Left camp at 5, and went on for 
sulphur springs nineteen miles ahead. 

August 26. — Found ourselves this morning at 5 o'clock 
about nine miles from Fort Boise. Stopped and got break- 
fast. Found plenty of bunch grass, but no water for cattle. 
Stopped twice during the night and rested teams. Came about 
thirteen miles before we put up to rest or recruit. Plenty of 
feed for team, but horrible sandy roads. Fort Boise is a mis- 
erable hole, with one white man and fourteen Sandwich Island 
niggers. 

August 27. — Found ourselves this morning on the road six 
miles back from Branch creek. Came on to it, and put up for 
the rest of the day. Here we found a place where we could 
stand with one foot in water hot enough for culinary purposes 
and the other in good, cool water to drink. Left camp at 
dark, for fear of Indians, and traveled until 11 o'clock, when we 
turned out for three hours. 

August 28. — Started this morning at 2, and came on four 
miles to sulphur springs. Here we stopped, and breakfasted 
ourselves and team. Then moved on ten miles to Birch creek, 
at 1 o'clock. Mrs. B. drove the cattle and let me take a nap 
in her bed. Left Birch creek, and came three and a half miles 
to the river. 

August 29. — Left camp at 6 in the morning, and came six 
miles to Burnt river. Made a yoke of an old axle. Started out 
again at 6 in the evening, and came five miles to a branch of 
Burnt river. 

August 30. — Started at midnight. Came on to a branch of 
Burnt creek. Here we laid up and rested our team and driver 
until half past 3 p. m., when we again started out, came four 
miles and camped until the moon was up, when we resumed 
our march. 

August 31. — Started out under a favorable breeze, down 
hill, the team going as if the devil was at their heels, and we 
shot out to the Slough, eight miles, in good time. Watered 
and went on a mile and fed on good grass. This makes us 
one hundred miles since Sunday evening at Fort Boise. Came 
to Powder river at 9:30. 

Sunday, September 1. — Started at half past 4, after being 
up with team nearly all night. Came on to the Good camp at 
spring. On our way here at Powder river we killed a noble 
salmon, taking breakfast out of him, and a fine dish it was. 
I just wish my family had such a fish to work at. From Fort 
Boise 114 miles. Encamped at first spring on the Grand 
Ronde. 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 19 

September 2. — Left camp at 6%. Stopped and let the 
team feed twice before noon. Came on to the bluffs, yj/2 
miles, at 1 1. Took dinner. Saw sand hill cranes and sage 
hens in plenty. In the Ronde found the best grass we have 
seen since we left home. Here we began climbing the Blue 
mountains, and if they don't beat the devil. Came on eight 
miles to Ronde river, and camped. 

September 3. — On our way at 4. Came over the mountains 
and through a dense forest of pine, twenty miles, to camp 
springs. Here we overtook Bichard and Thurman. 

September 4. — Left camp early and traveled fifteen and a 
half miles to the foot of the mountains. Encamped among 
the Kiuse and Walla Walla Indians. Poor feed for cattle, 
as the Indian horses had eaten it off. Here we got peas and 
potatoes. 

September 5. — Traded for a mare and colt and Indian dress, 
and came on ten miles. Paid for the things a brass kettle, two 
blankets, a shirt, etc. 

September 6. — Left camp early and went twenty miles to 
second crossing of the Umatilla river. Here we found a very 
intelligent Indian. Good grass. Bought a fine spotted horse, 
which cost me $55. 

September 7. — Stayed in camp until about dark, when 
we started out, going eight miles, to a place on the Umatilla 
river. Good grass, wood and water. 

September 8. — Sunday. Came to the Columbia river, 
twenty miles, through the sand all the way. This night I 
had my horse stolen. I was taken about sunset with the 
dysentery, which prostrated me very much. 

September 9. — Started in search of my horse before it was 
light. Found he had been stolen. Put out and left and came 
down the Columbia twelve miles. Encamped alone, with 
good feed, wood and water. 

September 10. — Left at 6, and came on seventeen miles to 
a creek. Feed rather scarce. I drove all day. George came 
up at night from hunting the horse. 

September 11. — Left at 6^2. Came nineteen miles. 
Camped on the Columbia at the island. Feed poor, but sand 
plenty. 

September 12. — Traveled about fifteen miles. Camped on 
a creek. Came up some of the worst bluffs on the road. 

September 13. — Came sixteen miles, to the river five miles 
above the falls. Road better. No feed. 

September 14. — Left early. Crossed falls of the river and 
came on to a creek six miles from the Dalles. Encamped for 



20 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

good. Came to the conclusion that the team would never 
stand driving over the Cascade mountains. 

September 15. — Left the team at the creek. Went to the 
Dalles and got some flour of Government officers at 25 cents 
a pound, and salt pork at I2j^ cents. 

September 16. — Drove to the Dalles. Sold the cattle to a 
Mr. Wilson for $110, and prepared to start for Portland down 
the river. Let George have $5. Set up nearly all night and 
watched the goods. 

September 17. — Loaded up our boat and left. Paid $17 for 
freight and passage. Left the wagon with IsTathan Olney, to 
be forwarded to Portland as soon as practicable. Came down 
about fifteen miles and landed for the night. We buried a 
child which we found upon the bank of the river, drowned. 

September 18. — Started at daylight. Came four miles and 
landed for breakfast; then ran down to the Cascade falls, 
landed, and camped for the night. 

September 19. — Hired a team and got our goods down 
below the rapids. Engaged Chenoweth to start out with us 
immediately, but he, being a scoundrel, did not do as he 
agreed, and we were obliged to stay until next morning. 

September 20. — Hired an Indian to carry us down in his 
canoe to Fort Vancouver. We had a hard time, in conse- 
quence of the Indian being so damned lazy. By rowing all 
the way myself we got to the fort at 1 in the morning as wet 
as the devil. 

September 21. — Got a room and put up our things to dry. 
Found a gentleman in the person of Mr. Brooks. 

September 22. — Left the fort with two Indians, who took 
us down the Columbia thirty-eight miles to the mouth of the 
Cowalitz and up the Cowalitz two miles to Judge Burbee's, 
in good season. Here we were kindly received, and treated 
as if old acquaintances. 

September 23. — Left the Judge's, loaded with kindness, 
and under pole came up the Cowalitz, which is a very hard 
stream to ascend. Encamped for the night under the protect- 
ing shade of lofty fir and hemlock trees. Slept very little. 

September 24. — Set sail again under an ash breeze, and 
came to Plomondon's landing about noon. Obtained horses 
and started out ten miles to Mr. J. R. Jackson's, where we 
were received very kindly and kept free over night. 

September 25. — With an early start, made our way twenty 
miles to Mr. S. S. Ford's for dinner. From this we made 
our way through dense forest and uneven plain twenty-five 
miles to M. T. Simmons's, our place of destination, where we 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 21 

were received with that degree of brotherly kindness which 
seemed to rest our weary limbs, and promise an asylum for 
us in our worn-out pilgrimage. 

The journey across the continent was a hard one to all. 
There was constant struggle and suffering; fear of Indians. 
Mormons, deep and turbulent rivers, mountain climbings and 
starvation ; worry unceasing concerning the animals and 
vehicles of the train, and of the wandering and helpless mem- 
bers of the family; uncertainty as to the future, that at times 
became distressing; dirt everywhere, sickness and disease, 
and frequently death. The immigrants tired of themselves 
and tired of each other. Stretching out these unhappy con- 
ditions for a period of four or five months, as but faintly 
portrayed in diaries such as the foregoing, drove some of the 
participants into suicide, others into insanity, and left many 
a physical wreck for whom there was no possibility of re- 
covery. Even the stoutest of mind and body, combining 
usually the best natures in the party, were so worn and ex- 
hausted by the end of the trip that they could no longer 
restrain their exhibitions and exclamations of impatience, of 
irritation, and of complaint. Doctor Maynard was one of 
this class. No one ever crossed the plains better equipped 
mentally and physically than he, more helpful and self re- 
liant, more able to lead and direct, more prepared for wise 
action in any emergency or contingency that might occur. 
He was one of the most jovial of men, whose good humor 
could hardly be disturbed, and who was always smoothing 
out troubles, doing personal favors and calming the agita- 
tions of those about him. And yet even he could not con- 
tinue to the end without showing some signs of the ill feel- 
ings he experienced. The entries in his diary the last few 
days are referred to, and particularly the one relating to 
Chenoweth. Chenoweth was not a scoundrel by any means. 
He was a young lawyer, who had settled at the Cascades, 
where he was endeavoring to practise his profession, and at 
the same time conduct a hotel and carry people and mer- 
chandise by sail vessel to and from the settlements on the 
lower Columbia and Willamette rivers. Five years later he 
was one of the three United States judges for the Territory 




22 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

of Washington ; during which time Maynard served under him 
as clerk and commissioner, when they became intimate and 
excellent friends. Afterwards he went to Oregon, where he 
died, after a long, useful and honorable career. 

Slow and Difficult Trips to South and North. 

jR. MAYNARD began at once to acquaint himself 
with the new country to which he had undesignedly 
come. Before establishing himself he concluded to 
look at Portland, Oregon City and the country in their 
vicinity. Of the trip one way he made the brief notes fol- 
lowing : 

Tuesday, Oct. 8. — Left M. Simmons's on horseback for the 
Wallamet on an excursion. Came to S. S. Ford's. Met with 
friend visiting the valley of the Sound. Stayed over night 
with them. 

Oct. 9. — Came on to Jackson's, took dinner and then to 
Warbass's. Engaged our Indians to take us over to the 
Wallamet. Stopped over night. 

Oct. 10. — Left early, and came down to Tebo's, and 
stopped over night. 

Oct. 11. — Put out and came up the Columbia to Deer 
island, stopping for the night at Mr. Merrill's. 

Oct. 12. — Came on to the mouth of the Wallamet, and 
stopped at Mr. Miller's for the night. 

The record is cut off here. The Doctor undoubtedly 
reached Portland the next day, being six days in making a 
trip that can now be made in six hours. 

Upon his return to Olympia Maynard resolved next time 
to go north. A government geologist named Evans had 
recently reported coal on Steilaguamish river. Samuel 
Hancock claimed to know of it, too. Major H. A. Golds- 
borough, who had been on the Sound a few months, also had 
some knowledge of it, which he imparted freely. About the 
same time Patkanim, chief of the Snoqualmie Indians, then 
a strong but troublesome tribe, came upon the scene. May- 
nard employed him in the making of the trip and for the pur- 
pose of the discovery which he contemplated. They started 
together November 18th, with six Indians to move the canoe 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 23 

and do the work. The Doctor's account of the trip is as 
follows : 

Monday, Nov. 18. — Left Olympia, and went down the 
Sound eight miles, and encamped under a slab house of our 
own building. Saw Simmons and Judge Strong at Round 
Point. Rain. 

Nov. 19. — Left camp early, and traveled about twenty 
miles, to the entrance of the Narrows. Encamped. Rain. 

Nov. 20. — Left camp and sailed a part of the way in the 
rain. Stopped, and bought salmon and potatoes and mats. 
Camped on the beach, but were driven off before daylight by 
the tide. Got my gun wet. Left the skillet cover. 

Nov. 21. — Left camp late, in the rain, under sail, with a 
stiff breeze, and ran around to an Indian camp, where we were 
obliged to stay until next morning for the wind. 

Nov. 22. — Left camp early, and ran into the mouth of the 
Snohomish a short distance and encamped. Found the banks 
low and marshy, with little timber. 

Nov. 23. — Started early and traveled against tide and cur- 
rent about twelve miles. Met with a nest of Indians. 
Stopped, and had a long chat with them, but learned nothing 
of use to our object. 

Nov. 26. — Paid foi canoe one blanket, two shirts, three 
looking glasses and other iktas to the amount of 62 cents. 

Unfortunately the entries of Nov. 24th and 25th and 27th 
and 28th have been torn from the book, so that all that is 
known of the trip in the Doctor's own handwriting is that 
contained in the foregoing. It is known from other sources, 
however, that coal was discovered, and that Maynard sold 
his information and rights to Sargent, upon his return to 
Olympia. Evidently the coal was not much, tho, as in all 
the years since it has remained undeveloped. Dr. Maynard 
was suspicious of Patkanim, and watched him closely dur- 
ing the entire trip. The year before an attack had been made 
by the Snoqualmies upon Fort Nisqually, and two white 
men killed, for which Patkanim was supposed to be respon- 
sible, and for which two of the members of his band were 
subsequently hung. He was also accused of inciting other 
tribes, in 1848, to a general massacre of the whites, in which 
effort he was unsuccessful, probably on account of the feeling 
of distrust with which he was generally regarded by all who 



24 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

knew him, Indians as well as whites. On this particular trip, 
tho, he apparently served his employer faithfully and well. 

One of the entries in this little book is as follows : 

Sold to Dr. Maynard Nov. 12th, 1850. 

One bottle sweet spirits nitre $1. 

Three bottles Haarlem oil 1. 

One box blue mass 50 

$2.50 
Received payment for H. M. Knighton. 

JOSEPH W. TRUTCH. 

Knighton was one of the Oregon immigrants of 1845, wno 
for a time was quite prominent. His children— three daugh- 
ters and one son — have lived in Seattle for many years, the 
ladies being Mrs. Struve, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Harrington. 
Trutch was an Englishman, acting at the time as salesman 
in Knighton's store. He subsequently became an engineer 
of distinction, was a member of British Columbia's last colo- 
nial cabinet, and was its first Lieutenant Governor, in 1871, 
when it became one of the Provinces of the Dominion of 
Canada. 

December 30th, 1850, in making a trip to Fort Nisqually, 
Maynard notes in his diary the commission to buy of "Dr. 
Tolmie stovepipe and one dozen pairs of woollen socks for 
Simmons & Smith." 

While there are many other entries in the little book they 
are disconnected and of varied character, as tables of distances, 
lists of addresses, receipts for moneys, names of Indians, bills 
of goods, etc., the dates very evidently being of other times 
than those printed in the places where the entries are found. 

A Cargo of Cordwood; the First Convention. 



m 



N making these trips and otherwise, Maynard 
had used all his small means. He had picked up 
a few dollars on the road, received a hundred dol- 
lars for helping the widow. Broshears from Fort Kearney 
to Olympia, and had also gathered in some fees for services 
since his arrival in September. He had lost $55 by the 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 25 

stealing of his horse, probably taken by the Indian from 
whom he bought it. Urgent necessity stared him boldly and 
harshly in the face. Undaunted, he took off his fine coat, 
donned the garments of a laborer, and proceeded to cut cord 
wood for the San Francisco market. He kept at it until late 
in the summer, when he had four hundred cords piled up on 
the beach in the lower part of Olympia. About this time the 
brig Franklin Adams, Capt. Leonard M. Felker, came seek- 
ing a load, which Maynard's woodpile furnished, the Doctor 
going down the coast with the vessel for the purpose of selling 
the cargo. 

Before going, however, Dr. Maynard actively interested 
himself in the movement to secure the creation of a new Terri- 
tory, by division of Oregon, the Columbia river being the line 
of separation in view. July 4th, 1851, at the celebration in 
Olympia of the national holiday, the suggestion was made by 
Col. J. B. Chapman of the future State of Columbia. It fired 
the patriotism of Simmons, Poe, Crosby, Maynard, Ebey, 
Goldsborough, Brownfield and others, so that a call was at 
once made for the holding of a convention to take the first 
steps to secure what they considered the most desirable of all 
things — a new Territorial government. The convention as- 
sembled at Cowlitz, August 29th, and was attended by the 
men named and eighteen others. For two days they were in 
session, the results being movements ■ inaugurated for the 
creation of four new counties north of the Columbia river and 
of the new Territory. Dr. Maynard favored a State govern- 
ment, and a resolution presented by him called for a second 
convention to be held at Olympia in May, 1852, "for the for- 
mation of a State Constitution, preparatory to asking admis- 
sion into the Union as one of the States." The resolution was 
adopted by vote of all, but the convention was not held. 

In California in 1851. 

I ~A 1 FTER selling his wood in San Francisco Maynard 
I «//ni \ went to one of the gold mining districts to see his 
WVlpftl old Ohio friend, John B. Weller, who after three 
terms in Congress, from 1839 to 1845, an d service as colonel in 
the Mexican war, had settled in California, and was then be- 



26 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

ginning there a career of success honorable to him in the ex- 
treme, and which included a term in the United States Senate, 
a term as Governor, and appointment as Minister to Mexico. 
Weller pointed to a chest of gold in his tent, and said : "May- 
nard, if you lift that off the ground I'll give half of it to you." 
Though a stout man, it was too heavy for the Doctor. Weller 
wanted Maynard to stay in California, but the latter would 
not, as conditions there did not suit him. During his short 
visit five men were killed in the camp in a foolish, wretched 
row, and several others lost their lives on other occasions. 
It was too much like a continued battle to please the peace- 
able physician. There was another reason, too, for May- 
nard's refusal. He had become interested in the widow Bro- 
shears, and her presence on Puget Sound was a magnet which 
he was unable to resist. When Weller found that Maynard 
was determined to return to the north, he said to him : "Doc- 
tor, let me advise you. You have the timber up there that 
we want and must have. Give up your profession. Get ma- 
chinery and start a sawmill. In selling us lumber you'll make 
a hundred dollars for every one that you may possibly make 
in doctoring, and you'll soon be rich." He also informed him 
that two other former Ohioans, Henry L. Yesler and John 
Stroble, were then arranging to start a mill at some point 
not yet determined in Oregon. When Maynard platted his 
town of Seattle something more than a year later he named 
one of the streets after his friend, then U. S. Senator Weller. 



Returns to Puget Sound. 

PON Dr. Maynard's return to the city he bought at 
auction a lot of goods that had come around the Horn 
by ship and were said to be damaged. They con- 
sisted of brooms, boots, molasses and such articles. He 
cleaned them up, and they sold as well as the best in the mar- 
ket. He bought more goods, and chartered Capt. Felker's 
vessel to carry them to Olympia. On the way up they called 
in at Neah Bay, where they found a British ship in distress 
— wrecked, in fact. The Indians had taken advantage of the 
unfortunate plight of the vessel and people to plunder them. 




The Life of David S. Maynard. 27 

The coming in of the American brig with a small brass howit- 
zer on board changed matters. The Indians were intimidated, 
and compelled under threat of bombardment to give up the 
stolen goods. Passengers and crew of the British ship were 
taken to Fort Victoria, where the rescuers were generously 
compensated and rewarded by the authorities. Maynard 
opened his goods to the public at Olympia. Several small 
stores were there then. He found them selling brooms at $i 
apiece, $i a yard for calico, $i a pound for white sugar, 50 
cents a yard for domestic, and like prices generally for their 
goods. He cut rates for the articles named, one-half for the 
brooms and domestic, and three-fourths for the sugar and 
calico. Of course, this made a violent disturbance in trade, 
and the other dealers in turn made it as unpleasant for May- 
nard as they could. In the end they got rid of him, with the 
help of the great chief of the middle Sound Indians — Seattle. 
Seattle told Maynard that he knew a better place than Olym- 
pia for him. At this place was a harbor that would permit 
ships to enter at any time and get close to shore. There was 
a river, and near by a lake, while not far off was a road over 
the mountains. The soil was good, there was great hunting, 
and the fishing was the very best. More Indians were in that 
neighborhood than anywhere else, and they would work for 
him, trade with him and make him rich. Maynard was utterly 
fearless, as far as Indians were concerned. He had wonderful 
influence over them ; his profession, as "a medicine man" hav- 
ing effect no doubt, in addition to which he treated them in 
the fairest, most honorable manner on all occasions. They 
believed him and trusted him. When Chief Seattle had con- 
vinced him, and offered to personally direct him to the spot, 
Maynard accepted the offers of lands and privileges made by 
the chief, who exercised sovereignty over much of the country, 
and immediately got ready to go to the lower Sound in the 
new quest for fortune and fame. Selling off such goods as he 
could there, he put the remainder in a large boat, and, accom- 
panied by the Indian chief and retinue, set sail on the 27th of 
March, 1852. 




28 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

Locates on Duwamish Bay. 

OUR days later they were at Alki Point, where a set- 
tlement had been made the previous fall by John N. 
Low, Charles C. Terry, Lee Terry, David T. Denny, 
Arthur A. Denny, Carson D. Boren and Wm. N. Bell, four 
of the men named having families. Maynard found that a 
condition of change was then imminent. Low and the Terrys 
intended staying at Alki. The other four men were preparing 
to move over to the locality Seattle was recommending to 
Maynard. They had examined the bay — known sometimes as 
Elliott and sometimes as Duwamish — during the winter, and 
had found it good, and as they believed, much better than the 
exposed roadway at Alki. The land on the east side of the 
bay they preferred to that on the west. They had decided 
among themselves as to the arrangement of their claims, 
but no final action had yet been taken. When Maynard 
arrived and announced his plans the other men were pleased. 
They wanted a doctor near by, and a store. Another man 
of his apparent energy and experience was also desirable. 
They urged him to settle with them. Upon looking over the 
ground and finding things so pleasant and promising, May- 
nard concluded that this was the place he was seeking, and 
that he would join the others in founding and establishing the 
proposed new settlement. He selected for his claim the land 
south of theirs, bounded on the north by the present Yesler 
Way, and extending back from the bay in a compact form so 
as to include all that he would be entitled to under the terms 
of the recently-enacted donation law. For the purpose of his 
official land entry he named the 3d of April, 1852, as the day of 
his settlement. He lost no time in dreaming and scheming. 
Hiring white men and Indians to help him, within a week he 
had the house finished, and was living in it and selling goods. 
The building was about eighteen feet wide and twenty-six 
feet long, the front half having an attic and the rear but a 
single floor, a sort of shed attachment. Of course, it was 
built of logs cut on the ground near by. It stood at the pres- 
ent northwest corner of First avenue south and Main street, 
extending into the avenue, facing the tall timber on the east, 
and close to the water of Puget Sound on the west. In those 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 29 

days tide water came to First avenue in a number of places, 
a fact that in these later days it is difficult for newcomers 
to comprehend. Maynard's goods included drugs as well as 
groceries, tools and clothing, and his was the first mercantile 
effort in what is now the city of Seattle. It is only fair to 
say, tho, that C. C. Terry had brought a stock of merchandise 
to Alki Point the previous November, where he had since 
been conducting a store in conjunction with John N. Low, 
they calling their place New York, and their store the New 
York Mahkoke House. 

Fish, Lumber, Land and Taxes. 

NE of Dr. Maynard's objects in undertaking this set- 
tlement was to put up Puget Sound fish for the San 




Francisco market. He had hardly got his store 
opened before he was employing white men in making barrels, 
and Indians in catching salmon. In September he had fifty 
Indians fishing for him. He put up nine hundred barrels of 
salmon that summer and fall. Piled upon the beach they 
made rather an imposing appearance. Later six hundred bar- 
rels were taken away by Capt. Felker on his vessel, and three 
hundred barrels by Capt. George Plummer. Much of the fish 
spoiled, no money was made, and Maynard did not repeat the 
effort. He also was impressed with what Senator Weller had 
told him about lumber, and in following the advice then re- 
ceived he with others loaded the brig Franklin Adams with 
12,000 feet of square timber, 8,000 lineal feet of piles, 30 cords 
of wood and 10,000 shingles. About this time — the fall of 
1852 — Henry L. Yesler came along with machinery for a small 
sawmill. The land proprietors were all eager to get him to 
locate among them. The idea of a town was now entertained, 
and a mill employing men and inducing ships to come would 
be desirable to that end. To enable Yesler to get to the bay, 
where his mill should be built — the present northwest corner 
of First avenue and Yesler way — the lines of the land claims 
there were readjusted and a long narrow strip given him 
reaching far to the east. The first real estate transaction in 
King County was a relinquishment by David S. Maynard in 
favor of Yesler of the north 120 feet of Maynard's claim. This 



30 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

was dated the 2d of January, 1853, a few days after the legis- 
lative creation of King County, but before its formal organiza- 
tion. It was yet, in fact, Thurston County, with seat at Olym- 
pia, in Oregon Territory. In illustration of the newness of 
the country at that time, of the method of conducting official 
business, and of the extent of Thurston County, which then 
included all of Puget Sound, the advertisement following is 
copied from the Columbian, the first paper published on the 
Pacific coast north of Columbia river : 

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS. 

The undersigned, collector of taxes, will be at New York 
and vicinity on or about the 5th of October; at Whidby Island 
on or about the nth; at New Dungeness on or about the 16th; 
at Port Townsend on or about the 20th. This notice is given 
for the accommodation of taxpayers so that they may be ready 
to pay their taxes. 

A. J. SIMMONS, Sheriff. 

By A. Benton Moses, Deputy and Collector of Taxes. 

New People; Monticello Convention; Divorces; King County. 

Tho Seattle was not of sufficient consequence for the tax 
collector to give it a call, New York being the more important 
place in his estimation, it was a growing one. New people 
were coming, and small, cheap houses were building for them, 
in most cases on Maynard's claim. Among others was a law- 
yer named George N. McConaha, with family, and about the 
same time or soon after came Henry A Smith, Wm. P. Smith, 
E. M. Smithers, Dexter Horton, Thomas Mercer, Edward 
Hanford, John C. Holgate, Wm. A. Strickler, Chas. Plummer, 
R. J. Wright, Joseph Foster, Henry Adams, Eli B. Maple, 
Francis McNatt, Sidney B. Simons, John Stroble, George F. 
Frye, W. G. Latimer, David Maurer, Edmund Carr, John J. 
Moss, S. W. Russell, Franklin Matthias, Hillory Butler and 
others, a fair proportion of them with wives and children, 
some of whom settled in the incipient town, and some on 
land claims near by. Most of them f»/imd employment in the 
Yesler sawmill, and at. times worked in the woods getting out 
piles, square timbers and sawlogs. Up the Duwamish were 
Luther M. Collins, Henry Van Asselt, Jacob Maple and Sam- 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 31 

uel Maple, who had there located donation claims in Septem- 
ber, 1851, and who were drawing to their neighborhood other 
men and families in quest of fertile lands such as that valley 
afforded. In addition to these were the Alki Pointers, or New 
Yorkers — Low, Terry, Renton, the Russells, et al. — and a few 
others making the first settlements in what is now Kitsap 
County. So much progress was evidenced as early as the sum- 
mer of 1852 that the Commissioners of Thurston County, Ore- 
gon, on the 6th of July established School District No. 5, the 
same limits being made to include Dewamps (or Duwamish) 
election precinct, created simultaneously. Within this dis- 
trict and precinct were all of the eastern shore of Puget Sound 
north of Puyallup river. David S. Maynard was named as 
Justice of the Peace. The following December the first elec- 
tion was held, when A. A. Denny received all of the Dewamps 
votes for member of the Oregon Legislature, and was elected. 
It is not surprising that the ambitious men who were here 
getting together in a new country and new communities should 
be strongly affected by the agitation begun in the second half 
of 1852 in favor of a Territory apart from Oregon south of 
the Columbia. It was very inconvenient to them to go to 
Oregon City or Salem to enter government land or secure leg- 
islation, and the sympathies of the people there, they believed, 
ran more among themselves than in the direction of their 
distant, scattered and comparatively few fellow citizens of 
the north. Whether this supposition was based upon truth or 
not makes no difference now, but it did then, and it had weight 
in influencing the people in their action at that time. They 
were fully imbued with the American principle of self govern- 
ment, and to them it was much more like self government to 
live in and control a Territory of thirty or forty thousand 
square miles than it was to be an insignificant, uninfluential, 
out-of-the-way settlement in a Territory of ten times that 
area. Therefore, when the call was issued for a convention to 
be held at Monticello, to take steps looking to the creation of 
another Territory, the response was quick and glad, and no- 
where more so than at the New York, Duwamish river and 
Seattle settlements. Of the forty-four members of that his- 
toric body eight were from them, namely: John N. Low, 



32 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

Chas. C. Terry, Luther M. Collins, George N. McConaha, 
David S. Maynard, R. J. White, Wm. N. Bell and Arthur A. 
Denny. To these men such a trip was a serious matter, mean- 
ing- at the least two weeks of time, considerable expense, much 
discomfort and some risk. None of them shrank or hesitated 
on this account. 

Dr. Maynard had in view a number of matters, of personal 
and public interest, to induce him to attend the convention and 
go on to Salem, the capital. One of them was a divorce. He 
had long contemplated this action, but for various reasons 
had shrunk from its taking. He could have obtained the sep- 
aration through the court at Olympia, but he did not care to 
make a charge against his wife or justify his own course of 
conduct. In the Legislature this would be unnecessary. As 
is usually the case with men in such affairs he thought the 
less that was said the better. This was without regard to the 
right or wrong of the matter, the justice or the injustice. It 
was with him as with hundreds and thousands of other pio- 
neers — the 49ers of California as well as the early Oregonians. 
Men came to the Pacific coast for the purpose of getting away 
from unhappy family conditions, for the making of new starts 
in life, for their own betterment and the betterment of the 
world. What would have occurred at home had they not come 
cannot be told. It is just as well to be charitable in looking 
at these things. Several of the King County pioneers were in 
this respect as grievous offenders as Maynard, and if the facts 
were all known would probably be thought much more so. 
Before starting the Doctor arranged his affairs as well as he 
could, leaving a man in charge of his business and property, 
and a little after the middle of the month left for Olympia, 
Monticello and Salem. His object at the first named place 
may be readily inferred. It was, of course, to see the widow 
Broshears. The convention met November 26th and 27th. 
McConaha was made president and White secretary. Upon 
motion of Quincy A. Brooks, a committee of thirteen members 
was appointed to prepare a memorial to Congress, setting forth, 
the situation and the desires of the people. The only two 
members of the convention now known to be living are Mr. 
Brooks and Edward J. Allen, both of whom were on this im- 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 33 

portant committee. Another member of the committee was 
Maynard. A strong, terse, clear and comprehensive paper was 
formulated, the dignified and unobjectionable language of 
which could give no offense in the southern part of the Terri- 
tory. The memorial respectfully requested of Congress the 
creation of the Territory of Columbia, the lands to be included 
being all that part of Oregon north and west of the Columbia 
river. The Oregon Legislature and Delegate Lane were asked 
to give their aid to the movement thus inaugurated. Maynard 
went on to Salem. There, with the assistance of Chenoweth 
and Ebey, the subject was presented to the Legislature, which 
gracefully complied with the convention's request, adopting 
and forwarding a short memorial upon the line indicated. The 
Legislature was in session during December and January. 
Maynard had his divorce bill introduced. It was common in 
the Territorial Legislatures to enact such measures prior to 
i860. Sometimes twenty or more divorces were • granted. 
Representative Ebey opposed Maynard's application, not, 
however, on personal grounds, but on principle ; he alleging, 
also, that Legislative divorces were of doubtful validity. His 
opposition was futile. A number of divorces were granted, as 
usual, Maynard's among them. Maynard urged the creation 
of new counties in the Puget Sound region. Bills were intro- 
duced for four such. One of them was for the county of 
Buchanan. The name was afterwards changed to King, the 
other counties being Island, Jefferson and Pierce. Pierce and 
King were named in honor of the two men elected the month 
before (November, 1852), President and Vice President, of the 
United States. In the King County bill Maynard secured a 
provision locating the county seat upon his donation claim, 
and another fixing his house as the place for the holding of 
the next election. In still another bill passed while he was 
there, a notary public was named for each of the new counties, 
Maynard being the notary for King County. It is plain from 
the results that the Doctor was looked upon at Salem as a 
pretty good fellow. That he could have anything he chose 
to ask for that the Legislators could give was quite evident. 




34 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

Marriages; Yesler's Mill; First Burial Ground. 

IS work at the Territorial capital being accomplished, 
Maynard hurried back to Puget Sound. Of course, 
L'| there was another stop at Olympia, where the last 
of the opposition to him was overcome. A few days were 
spent in Seattle, and then at a farmhouse in the country three 
or four miles back of Olympia, on the 15th of January, 1853, 
he and Mrs. Catherine T. Broshears were married. There 
was no bridal tour and no more time wasted. He had been 
away from home so much that he must get back to look after 
his interests and business. Other people wanted to get mar- 
ried, too, and, as there was no clergyman in Seattle and he 
was the local Judge, he had to hurry along. On the evening 
of the 23d of January, 1853, Justice Maynard united in matri- 
mony the first white couple in Seattle, H. L. Yesler, the jus- 
tice's clerk, being the witness. The ceremony was at the 
home of Arthur A. Denny, and the couple wedded were his 
brother, David T. Denny, and Mrs. Denny's sister, Louisa 
Boren, sister also of Carson D. Boren. This marriage turned 
out happily enough, as the couple lived together fifty years, 
and until the death of Mr. Denny, one of the most respected 
and honored men of the community. Another of Justice May- 
nard's early marriages did not result so pleasantly, the bride 
being Lizzie, or Betsey, a daughter of Angeline, and grand- 
daughter of Seattle, and the groom a French scalawag named 
Foster, who so ill-treated her that she hung herself. Justice 
Maynard had other kinds of business to attend to, of course. 
The first prosecutions and trials were before him. Number 
one was the investigation of a charge against the mate of the 
brig Franklin Adams of misappropriating the moneys and 
goods of the vessel. It was tried in Yesler's famous cook- 
house. The Justice found the charge proven, but he let the 
mate off with admonitions never to do the like again, and 
thereafter to keep his accounts in better order so as to avoid 
repetition of like mistakes. 

About this time Yesler got his mill ready to run. May- 
nard wanted to clear his land, so that his town lots could be 
seen and sold. He took a contract to supply the first logs, 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 35 

which he had cut by Hillory Butler and Wm. H. Gilliam from 
"the Point'' — the land south of Main street on either side of 
First avenue south. This part of Maynard's claim was an 
island of six or eight acres in extent, the water from the 
Sound flowing in and out between Yesler way and Washing- 
ton street on the west and at the present railroad depots on 
the east. The debris from the sawmill soon closed up the 
west opening, but that on the east admitted a gradually dimin- 
ishing quantity of sea water twenty-five years longer. By the 
filling in process that has been so long going on on the tide 
lands, all trace of "the Point" has been lost. Yesler paid $7 
a thousand feet for the logs, and that the price was not a big 
one will be apparent when it is stated that the work was all 
done by hand, there being neither horse nor ox employed in 
their moving from the stump to the bay and mill. The rough 
lumber sold readily in San Francisco at $35 a thousand, tho 
at times the prices paid in that city were considerably higher. 
There being no public cemetery Dr. Maynard permitted a 
number of interments to be made on a block of his east of the 
Union Pacific's present depot grounds. Among these was the 
body of Dr. Cherry, who was killed by the Whidby Island 
Indians early in 1854. He had gone there with Sheriff Russell 
and two other men to arrest the murderer of a man named 
Young, when they were fired upon and all four of the men 
shot, Cherry fatally. H. O. Keith, a merchant, here for his 
health, died of paralysis, and was there buried. George 
Seattle, a brother of Angeline, and a Mrs. Jemson were also 
laid there. The bodies of these people were never knowingly 
disturbed, and are there yet unless in the operations of graders 
they have been encountered and scattered. 

Platting and Naming the Town; Selling and Giving Away 

Lots. 



HEN the people first came to Seattle they found it 
possessed of a number of names. Parts of the land 
are said to have borne the Indian names Mukmukum 

and Tsehalalitch. The bay was called Elliott by Capt. Chas. 

Wilkes in 1841. Later Capt. James Alden called it Duwamish ; 

the river, Duwamish ; the point of land opposite, Duwamish 




36 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

Head ; and the lake to the east, Duwamish lake. The authori- 
ties of Thurston County called the first election precinct De- 
wamps, or Duwamish. The people were not satisfied with 
these names. They had the absolute control of their town 
name, of course, and after brief deliberation they united in 
terming it Seattle, after the chief of the neighboring Indians. 
(It may be said here that then there was no Sealth known, 
nor until long after the death of the chief, and that his family 
have never recognized that name as in anywise connected 
with them or their ancestors.) The permission of the chief 
was not sought; he never showed elation at the honor paid 
him, nor offered objection. He was an old, dignified man, 
much concerned in the welfare of his people, and always on 
terms of warm friendship with the whites, by whom he was 
credited with many services of value to them during the earlier 
years of their settlement. The name was euphonious. Like 
the chief who bore it, it was popular. And so, by common 
consent and without dissent, the town became Seattle. It 
legally became the town of Seattle on the 23d of May, 1853, 
when David S. Maynard individually filed a plat and Carson 
D. Boren and Arthur A. Denny unitedly filed another plat of 
adjoining parts of their three claims, they each so calling the 
place they were then engaged in. planning and preparing for. 
Maynard's plat was much the larger of the two, their includ- 
ing twelve blocks while his included fifty-eight. His land 
was laid off with reference to the cardinal points; their with 
reference to the shore line. The map herewith pictures his 
plat. The names of some of the streets have been changed 
since by the city council. The names Jackson, King, Lane 
and Weller are indications of Maynard's Democratic poli- 
tics. More than twenty years after his death the city govern- 
ment did him the honor of changing the name of a street in 
his donation claim and in his plat to Maynard avenue. In 
Maynard's plat provision was made for a public square, about 
a block and a half, parts of blocks 29, 30, 31 and 32, but in 
some way; his intended act of generosity failed of fruition, and 
the public square, after his death, was turned into town lots 
by other men and sold. So also there was failure of another 
gift or attempted gift of his. On the 25th of July, 1853, he 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 



37 



Rla£ of the 

Town cf Seattle 

King County, Ttfrshirujtorz Territory 



-7-1 




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trt a.ccor-aCarte& zx-itA. At«/we u/UZ. tvts&e* arrcC desire. #f wfucA. ?te is /K >rof>rte.£or: 

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cXC. Mnrri, 



"The Town of Seattle," as Platted by D. S. Maynard May 23d, 1853. 



38 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

tendered to the Methodist Episcopal church a tract of land 
44 rods wide by 106 rods long on the hillside east of his town 
site. His object was to secure there a school to be called the 
Seattle Institute, conducted by the church. The same day 
the tender was accepted as far as was then possible by the 
Presiding Elder, who appointed Messrs. A. A. Denny, Ed- 
mund Carr, R. H. Lansdale, George Hughbanks and Wm. E. 
Morse a Board of Trustees for the purpose of carrying out the 
idea of the donor. As no subsequent action was taken the 
land reverted to Maynard. If the church owned this land 
now, so generously offered it, it would be wealthy, indeed. 
The first recorded sales of real estate in King County were 
made by D. S. Maynard. May 16th he sold to Capt. Leonard 
M. Felker lots 3 and 6 in block 2 for $100. Lot 6 was an inside 
lot alongside the present day New England Hotel, and lot 3 
was in the bay immediately to the west. This was a week 
before the plat was filed, and several months before a lot was 
sold by any one else. From the beginning he sold or gave 
away his lots rapidly, his patrons or friends being Henry 
Adams, Franklin Matthias, Henry Webber, Thomas W. 
Slater, R. P. Willis, Charles Plummer, John A. Chase, Wal- 
ter Abbott, George Plummer, David Maurer, John J. Moss, 
Solomon Collins, L. V. Wyckoff, W. P. Smith, L. M. Felker 
and others in Seattle, and to prominent men of the Territory 
elsewhere, as Elwood Evans, Wm. H. Wallace, Daniel S. 
Howard, J. Patton Anderson, J. S. Clendenin, Chas. H. Mason, 
W. W. Miller, Hugh A. Goldsborough and James Tilton. He 
received for his lots $1, $5, $10, $20, $25, $50 and in one case 
$100, lots that today are worth from $50,000 to $100,000 apiece. 
His largest sale at this time was to Capt. Felker, the block 
bounded now by Jackson and King streets, First avenue south 
and Railroad avenue — the so-called Point — for $350. Felker 
built a fine house upon it, at an expense of $4,000, in which 
court was held, and which was a favorite boarding house until 
its destruction by fire June 6th, 1889. Felker sold the block 
and house to A. C. Anderson in 1861 for $2,000, and Anderson 
about thirty years later sold the land for $51,000. Block 52 
Dr. Maynard deeded to four of his Eastern relatives, including 
his son and daughter. He paid the taxes upon it while living. 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 39 

but after his death the taxes were allowed to go unpaid, and 
the block was sold by the county to Melody Choir. In conse- 
quence of his enterprise, generosity and prodigality May- 
nard's lots went quickly. He would sell for almost any price 
that he could obtain. As a result the town was upon his claim 
during the first years of its existence, and it was not until in 
the 8o's that the business center crossed Yesler way. Having 
disposed of his land, however, the increased values given to 
it by the people and business he induced to locate upon it did 
not help him. In this respect — the one of personal benefit to 
himself and wife — his course was not so prudent as that 
adopted by Yesler, Denny, Terry and other large property 
owners, who, while encouraging the coming of new people, 
did not rob themselves for their good, but rather shared with 
them the advantages to be derived from the increase of pop- 
ulation and business and growth of the town. 

Dr. Maynard's character may be illustrated by an anecdote. 
He was prepared to turn his hand to anything useful. His 
experience on the Plains had not only made a teamster of him, 
but he thought a blacksmith. No one else offering to open a 
shop in his town, Maynard in the summer of 1853 purchased 
and installed a bellows, anvil, tools and materials on lot one 
of block seven, the southeast corner of First avenue south and 
Washington street. There he shod the draft animals of the 
Duwamish farmers. In town there was neither horse nor ox. 
While so engaged on the 1st of September, one of the new- 
comers — a tall, powerful, young man, named Lewis V. Wy- 
ckoff — stopped and remarked to him : 

"You are doing pretty well for a doctor, but it is plain you 
never served time as a blacksmith's apprentice." 

"I never did ; that's true," replied the physician, "and I'm 
not doing this because I like it. But, maybe, you think you 
have served time." 

"Yes, I have ; and I'm a good blacksmith, too," said 
Wyckoff. 

"Perhaps, then, you'd like to own this shop?" 

"I would like to have it, but I haven't the money with 
which to buy it," said Wyckoff, thinking that Maynard was 
likely to ask a big price. 



40 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

"Well, if you want it, and will promise to run it," May- 
nard remarked, "you can have it cheap enough, and on terms 
to suit you." 

"Name your price, Doctor," the sturdy blacksmith said. 

"If you will keep the shop open, and do the people's work, 
I'll give you the entire outfit, and sell you the lot for ten 
dollars." 

"They're mine," shouted the astonished Wyckoff. "Here's 
your money. Give me the deed." 

Before night the quit claim deed from Maynard to Wy- 
ckoff was on file at the auditor's office. Probably no man in 
Seattle had more varied and diverse employments than D. S. 
Maynard. Anything good enough for other men to do was 
good enough for him — if useful, desirable, or profitable — and 
what he did he usually did well. The story also exemplifies 
his liberality or reckless open-handedness. 

Seattle's First Courts and Their Business. 

HE Territory of Washington having been created by 
Congress in March, 1853, and Gov. Stevens having 
proclaimed its organization in November following 
by establishment of election precincts and appointment of 
officers, and the formation of the Legislative and Judicial 
districts, the calling of an election and so forth, special pro- 
gress was made by Seattle in consequence. It was one of 
the two precincts of the county, the other one being Alki. 
H. L. Yesler, A. A. Denny and D. S. Maynard were appointed 
by the Governor as the officers of election, which was held 
on the 30th of January, 1854. King was made a Repiesenta- 
tive district by itself, but was joined with Pierce in the Coun- 
cil district. All of Puget Sound north of Thurston County 
was constituted the Third Judicial District, with terms of 
court at Steilacoom, Seattle, Coveland and Port Townsend. 
The term of court ordered by the Governor to be held at 
Seattle in February was found to be impossible. The first 
term, therefore, was in October, 1854, Chief Justice Lander 
presiding. Thomas S. Russell was Sheriff; David S. May- 
nard, Clerk ; Frank Clark, Prosecuting Attorney for the Terri- 




The Life of David S. Maynard. 41 

tory, and Elwood Evans Attorney for the United States by 
special appointment. The first complaints were against Cap- 
tains Rand, Pray, Newell and Collins, for discharging ballast 
in the Sound. The charges were held against these mariners 
until the next term of Court, when they were dismissed by 
Judge Chenoweth, probably because of the newness of things, 
lack of knowledge of law and the custom in the past for ship- 
masters to dump ballast at pleasure. The next man brought 
in for that offense, however, was not let off so easily ; Capt. 
Marshall Blinn, in April, 1855, being convicted and fined. At 
the first term of Court the Grand Jury consisted of Chas. C. 
Terry, Win. N. Bell, S. M. Holderness, O. M. Eaton, Francis 
McNatt, Edmund Carr, Franklin Matthias, Henry VanAsselt, 
Wm. H. Gilliam, Henry Pierce, C. C. Lewis, B. L. Johns, 
Abram F. Bryant, Joseph Foster, William Heebner, G. W. 
W. Loomis, Wm. P. Smith, H. H. Tobin, J. L. Foster and 
Burley Pierce. In 1853 Mesatchee Jim, a bad Indian, as in- 
dicated by his name, had killed his wife without cause or 
reason. The white men did not like Jim or his act, and a 
party of them, organized for the purpose, promptly seized 
him and hung him in the outskirts of town. The attention of 
the Grand Jury was called to this act of lawlessness by Judge 
Lander and Prosecutor Clark, the result being the indict- 
ment of David Maurer for murder, October 24th. On the 
26th the Jury filed into Court, and after a statement to the 
Judge by Foreman Terry, Loomis and Heebner were dis- 
missed. Heebner was one of the leading actors in the lynch- 
ing, and while that fact did not seem to militate against him 
as a juror in the indictment of Maurer, it hardly seemed to 
be the proper thing for him to assist in his own indictment. 
The jury retired and immediately indicted Heebner for mur- 
der. Later Luther M. Collins was added to the prisoners so 
accused. Robert Brainard was similarly indicted, but Loomis 
escaped. Maurer was tried first. He was a simple-minded 
Dutchman. When the plain statement in the indictment was 
read to him in Court, and he was asked by the Judge whether 
he was guilty or not, he was frightened, and hesitated and 
stammered, according to Butler, Yesler, Foster and others of 
the pioneers then present. "Vat ish de question, Shudge?" 



42 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

he is said to have asked. It was read to him again, when he 
innocently replied, "I suppose I ish quilty, Shudge." Terry 
is said to have leaned over and whispered to him, "Not guilty, 
you fool, say not guilty," whereupon Maurer amended his 
plea by saying "not guilty." The first admission was disre- 
garded by the Court and the declaration of innocence was 
entered on the record instead. Maurer cried with fear, think- 
ing he would be hung, saying he would never see his family 
again, and he felt so bad. The trial jurors were Henry H, 
Decker, Henry Stevens, Seymore Wetmore, Delos Water- 
man, Chas. Walker, John Henning, Wm. H. Brannon, Samuel 
Bechtelheimer, George Bowker, Dexter Horton, Wm. A. 
Strickler and Timothy D. Hinckley. H. H. Tobin, Henry 
Pierce, O. M. Eaton, Henry Van Asselt, Franklin Matthias 
and Henry L. Yesler appeared as witnesses for the prosecu- 
tion, while those for the defense were Edward A. Clark, 
Lewis V. WyckofT, C. D. Boren, Sidney B. Simons, Luther 
M. Collins, Wm. H. Brown, Henry Adams, Joseph William- 
son and Wm. N. Bell. The whole proceedings were generally 
looked upon as a joke, but a couple of the jurors and the 
prosecuting attorney made it as serious for the prisoners as 
they could. Maurer was tried first, and very much to his 
relief, and quite as much to his surprise, was acquitted. Sev- 
eral of the Grand Jurors, it will be noticed, were witnesses for 
the defense, while Maurer himself was one of the regular 
panel of Petit Jurors, he being excused, of course, from try- 
ing himself, as Heebner had been from indicting himself. 
Heebner's trial followed Maurer's, occurring on the ist of 
November. The jurors then were Seymore Wetmore, T. D. 
Hinckley, Delos Waterman, Henry Stevens, Henry H. 
Decker, Daniel J. Sackman, John Hograve, Tarkington Sower, 
Arthur A. Denny, John Jameson, Wm. A. Strickler and Adol- 
phus Clymer. Heebner was a pretty tough fellow, and a 
harder fight was made against him than against poor Maurer. 
Some of the jurors held out for conviction for a long time. 
Judge Lander was as easy on the prisoners as he could be, 
without absolutely turning them loose. Joseph Cushman, of 
Olympia, and W. C. Pease, captain of the U. S. revenue cut- 
ter Jeff Davis, were attorneys for the defence. Heebner was 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 43 

acquitted also, whereupon the charge against Collins was 
dismissed. The witness fees in the Maurer case amounted to 
$57.70, while there was a charge for meals to jurors of $24; 
the meals in the Heebner case coming to $42, at 50 cents 
each, evidently seven table sittings. The court was held in 
the Felker House, kept then by Mary Ann Boyer, known to 
all old residents as "Mother Damnable," on account of her 
fierce temper, profane language and hard character. She was 
a good cook, had the best house in town, and got the patron- 
age of the traveling public. Lawyer Clark made a stiff fight 
for conviction of the accused men. He wanted to make a good 
impression as a lawyer, he being young, and they all new to 
each other. His course aroused some feeling of unpleasant- 
ness, one manifestation thereof, perhaps, being a large bill 
for accommodations at the Boyer House. He objected to it, 
but she was firm. He at last paid, but said that he must have 
a receipt to show, and to prevent her from exacting payment 
again. As she could neither read nor write she could give no 
receipt. By this time she was angry, in a rage, and, telling 
him she would give him a receipt, she stepped back into the 
kitchen. Returning with several sticks of stovewood she ad- 
vanced upon Clark with the words : "You want a receipt, 
do you? Well, you shall have one. Here it is. Take it," let- 
ting drive at him with all her great force one of the chunks of 
wood. He had become aware of her hostile intent, and fled, 
she pelting him with the sticks as long as he was within sight 
and range. Clark never afterwards wanted a receipt from 
her, and when the story got out no one else who heard it 
cared to risk the experience he then had by similarly annoy- 
ing her. It is doubtful if the U. S. Marshal, who paid her $39 
for furniture and room rent of the court during the short 
term, had the courage to ask a receipt from her. If he did, it 
is possible that, being a smooth politician, he adroitly avoided 
giving her offense. Dr. Maynard had trouble with her about 
the same time. It was a case of trespass. Justice Holder- 
ness decided in favor of Mrs. Boyer, but on appeal to the 
District Court Holderness was reversed and Maynard won. 

At the April term, 1855, David S. Maynard was appointed 
by Judge Chenoweth a U. S. Commissioner, to take acknowl- 



44 The Life of David S : Maynard. 

edgments, bail affidavits and attend to the other duties of the 
office. At the October term, in 1856, Elwood Evans, H. R. 
Crosby and William H. Wallace were appointed by the Dis- 
trict Judge, Chenoweth, a committee to examine Maynard 
with a view to ascertaining his qualifications for practising at 
the bar as an attorney-at-law. The committee reported to the 
Court that Maynard was of good moral character, and was 
qualified in all respects required by the statutes, and recom- 
mended that his application for the right to practise law be 
granted. The Judge accepted the report, and on the 28th 
Maynard was sworn in to support the Constitution of the Uni- 
ted States and the laws of the Territory of Washington, and 
to demean himself faithfully and honestly as an attorney, 
counselor and solicitor. After this term (October, 1856), the 
court in Seattle was abolished, and not revived or renewed 
until February, 1864. 

Though Mesatchee Jim was much disliked by other In- 
dians, and they were glad to be rid of him, they believed that 
the white men should be punished for his hanging, and they 
were disappointed when Maurer, Heebner and Collins were 
released. As some sort of compensation for the killing of Jim, 
they went over to the ranch of a lonely old bachelor, commonly 
known as "Old Jack," on the west side of the Duwamish river 
near its mouth, and killed him. In a general way the justice 
of the act of retribution upon the whites was recognized 
among the people, looking at it from the Indian standpoint, 
and no attempt was ever made to punish "Old Jack's" mur- 
derers. Deterrent effect upon the vengeance of the settlers was 
also caused by the fact that two other Indians had recently 
been given the same treatment that Mesatchee Jim had re- 
ceived, for crimes they were supposed to have committed. 
Further, it began to look like a dangerous game longer to 
play. 

The honor of the County School Superintendency was 
bestowed upon Dr. Maynard about this time, being added to 
his numerous other official and public favors. 




The Life of David S. Maynard. 45 

The Treaty of Point Elliott. 

N the 20th of January, 1855, and for three days fol- 
lowing, a council was held at Point Elliott, near the 
present city of Everett, by Gov. Stevens with the 
head men of the Duwamish, Suquamish, Snohomish, Snoqual- 
mie, Skagit and other tribes further north, including Seattle, 
Patkanim, Goliah and Chowittshoot. Stevens was accompa- 
nied by M. T. Simmons, B. F. Shaw, C. H. Mason, George 
Gibbs, S. S. Ford, H. D. Cock, Lafayette Balch, E. S. Fowler, 
H. A. Goldsborough, J. H. Scranton, L. M. Collins, D. S. May- 
nard and others, the only steamer on Puget Sound, the Major 
Tompkins, being used for the purpose of the expedition. After 
considerable talking, feasting, handshaking, smoking and ne- 
gotiating, a treaty was effected by which the natives relin- 
quished their rights in the greater part of the lands bordering 
the Sound, accepting as their own places of future residence 
reservations at a number of different points. For this and 
promises of peace and good behavior the Indians were to re- 
ceive instruction in farming, carpentry and the like, free 
schools were to be established, $15,000 were to be spent in 
improvements on the reservations, and for twenty years blan- 
kets, cloths, and other goods to the amount of $7,500 per an- 
num were to be given. To Maynard one of the gratifying fea- 
tures of the council was the good feeling evinced towards him 
by many of the natives. In making the first talk for the 
Indians at the conference, Seattle concluded with these words : 
"My mind is like yours. I don't want to say more. My heart 
is very good towards Dr. Maynard. I want always to get 
medicine from him." Chowittshoot, of Bellingham Bay, 
wound up with : "My mind is the same as Seattle's. I love 
him and send my friends to him if they are sick. I go to Dr. 
Maynard at Seattle if I am sick." The Governor promised 
them a doctor, as the desire for one was expressed by each and 
all of the chiefs. Maynard was the appointee, later in the year. 
The treaty was not ratified by the U. S. Senate until 1859, 
and, of course, the promised benefactions did not reach the 
Indians. They did not understand this, and complained and 
protested at the delay. In January, 1856, when the first year's 
goods were due, the Indian war was at its hight. The Indian 




46 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

superintendent and his agents did not know what to do. In 
his desire to keep at least partial faith with the red men, or at 
any rate have them think that he was doing so, Agent May- 
nard bought $1,300 worth of goods from Plummer & Chase, 
Seattle merchants, and distributed them among the natives 
as tho they were a part of the promised government bounty or 
payment for the lands. As this was not in accordance with 
custom and regulation, the Department at Washington never 
could find a way for settling this claim of Maynard's, and he 
lost the whole amount. 

The War of 1855-56; Maynard an Indian Agent. 

HE Indians of Eastern Washington became seriously 
disaffected in the summer of 1855. Their mutterings 
at first were disregarded. The army officers and some 
of the officials of the Territory would not believe there was 
danger. As time went on the feelings of discontent and hos- 
tility were insidiously and diligently spread. among the natives 
in the western half of the Territory and throughout the Terri- 
tory of Oregon. Finally there were overt acts of war. A 
party of gold seekers from Seattle, bound for a reported min- 
ing district in the vicinity of Colville, were attacked in the 
Yakima country. Several of the men were killed, and the 
others escaped to tell the tale. An Indian agent was sent to 
investigate the matter and demand the punishment of the 
murderers. He, too, was killed. A hundred soldiers next 
went into the country of the hostiles, only to be attacked and 
driven back with considerable loss. The war was now on, 
and its scene was rapidly extended to the west, particularly 
to the country included within the limits of King County. 
Attacks were made upon the whites at a number of places, 
citizens of the Territory, U. S. soldiers and settlers — men, 
women and children — being slain, houses burned, and other 
property ruined and destroyed. The town of Seattle was 
fortified, and though the citizens were assisted in its defense 
by a slnp ...QJLwar with one hundred and fifty men on board 
and on shore, it was attacked by the savages, and a desperate 
battle fought for its capture on the one side and its protection 
on the other. Gov. Stevens, who was also Superintendent of 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 47 

Indian Affairs, evolved the idea of separating the Indians, 
the hostiles from the friendlies or the supposed friendlies. In 
furtherance of that plan he established several camps on the 
islands and on the west shore of the Sound, into which he 
gathered as many Indians as possible, placing them under 
the care of agents, feeding them, and keeping from them as 
far as possible the emissaries of the enemy. For this purpose 
he looked up men for agents who were discreet, who possessed 
the confidence of the Indians, and who could be relied upon 
to do what was right by them and by the government and 
people. One of the men so selected was Doctor Maynard. 
He was given charge of the Indians of Seattle, Shilshole bay, 
Port Orchard and Port Madison, with headquarters at the 
latter place, upon the reservation set aside for his old friend, 
Chief Seattle, and the tribe of Suquamishes. There Maynard 
watched and cared for the Indians for a year and a half, mak- 
ing frequent trips to the other points of refuge, and carrying 
out the idea of the Governor most successfully and com- 
pletely. Several thousand Indians were in his charge, who 
would have given a vast deal of trouble had they put on the 
war paint and joined Owhi, Leschi, Kanasket, Kitsap and their 
associates. In this way the services of the men of peace were 
no less valuable than were those of the men of war; in fact, 
they may have been infinitely more valuable to the weak 
settlements then scattered along the shores of Puget Sound, 
saving some of them from destruction that otherwise could 
not have been averted. While so engaged Maynard was also 
attending to professional calls from his neighbors, and was by 
no means neglecting his duties as an officer of the Court and 
as a citizen. They were trying times to all, and no less so to 
him than to others, though he gave little evidence of worry, 
owing to his hearty, jovial, good nature. 

Dr. Maynard Becomes a Farmer; Events of i85g-'6o. 

HE war being ended, Maynard returned to town. 
Conditions had greatly changed. The farms of the 
country had been practically destroyed, but little 
more than the land being left. Homes in town had been simi- 
larly treated. Quite a number of the survivors either had 




48 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

already left the country or were then preparing to leave. The 
population was much reduced. There was almost no busi- 
ness. Money was exceedingly scarce. It was difficult, indeed, 
to live in the ordinary way. The town was set back for sev- 
eral years. There was no demand for lots. In fact, there were 
many more lots than there were people, and some of the dis- 
couraged ones were led to believe and say that land enough 
was already platted and sold for all the town that ever would 
be seen at Seattle. Maynard, being of hopeful disposition, 
and inclined to optimism, was unable to share in the gloomy 
views of his fellow townsfolk. At the same time he could not 
endure a life of sloth and inaction. His thoughts turned to 
the soil, and he began to talk of the pleasant life of the farmer. 
He was sure that if he were a tiller of the soil he would be 
prosperous as well as happy. Visions of the orchard, the veg- 
etable garden, the poultry, the horses and cattle were before 
him. The more he thought of these things the more he wanted 
his visions realized. He did not reflect that he had land enough, 
and good land, for this purpose. He must have another place, 
out of town, in the country, and yet near by, where he could 
maintain his agricultural operations and still, if he chose, make 
a few dollars occasionally from the practise of his profession 
among his old neighbors. While in this frame of mind he 
fell in with Charley Terry. Terry was the keenest and 
shrewdest of the local pioneers, full of energy and action, and 
one who knew a good thing the moment he saw it. In trad- 
ing Maynard was no match for him. It did not take Terry 
long to effect an exchange of his Alki Point claim of 319 acres 
for the 260 acres of Maynard's claim then unplatted. On the 
nth of July, 1857, they passed deeds each to the other, Terry 
acquiring land by the transaction worth today an average, 
perhaps, of $100,000 an acre, while Maynard got land that 
possibly might sell for $3,000 an acre. In other words the 
land that Terry got is now worth not far from $26,000,000, 
while the land that Maynard got is worth $1,000,000. The 
Doctor and his wife moved over to Alki and lived there for 
several years. They had a good home, and they endeavored 
to make the place attractive to visitors, having company fre- 
quently, and doing considerable in the way of hospitality. His 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 49 

place was a port of call for boatmen on the way up and down 
the Sound, while the Indians, always glad to see their old 
friend, camped there almost continually, and fed upon him 
until he had little left for himself and wife, and nothing to sell. 
Though he talked loud and often about the free and happy 
life of the farmer; sent samples of his finest garden stuff to 
the Olympia and Steilacoom newspapers, in illustration of what 
could be grown on the Sound, and kept up appearances gen- 
erally, he became discouraged after five or six years' trials, 
and was rather glad to get back to town, especially after the 
burning of his farmhouse and contents. Upon resumption 
of life in Seattle, the Doctor tried to sell the Alki farm. Men 
would look at it, but would not pay the price. Year by year 
the latter was reduced, until in 1868 (Sept. 28th), he found a 
man who was willing, able and sufficiently courageous to pay 
him $450 for the 314 acres of land then remaining. This ven- 
turesome individual was Knud Olson, known to all the old 
settlers from his long residence on the Alki place. A few 
days later Olson bought 161 acres adjoining, now in West 
Seattle, from George Bannock, for $300. These prices give an 
idea of how little value, less than forty years ago, was con- 
nected with Seattle property now worth millions almost be- 
yond computation. 

While Maynard was on the farm it is not to be supposed 
that he was doing nothing in the town or for the country. 
In illustration of his life during the six years there, 1859 may 
be referred to. That year he was appointed Court Commis- 
soner for King County, and was also elected Justice of the 
Peace for Seattle precinct. There still being no resident min- 
ister of the gospel in the village, Justice Maynard's services 
were frequently availed of by the young men and women who 
were spoiling for matrimony. On the 28th of August he made 
two couples happy, no previous day in local annals equaling 
that in this respect. Lewis V. Wyckoff and Mrs. Ursula Mc- 
Conaha were then legally joined by him, in the home of the 
widow, while at the Terry residence Capt. John S. Hill and 
Miss Addie J. Andrews were also married. A fortnight later 
(Sept. 15th, 1859,) Miss Nellie M. Andrews, a sister of Mrs. 
Hill, and Sumner B. Hinds were married by Justice Maynard. 



50 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

These young ladies were from Bucksport, Maine, and had 
been on the Sound but a short time. Hinds's partner, Charles 
Plummer, was also married by Maynard, at Alkt, on the 4th 
of July, i860, the bride being Mrs. Sarah J. Harris, not long 
from Lowell, Massachusetts. Plummer, by the way, was one 
of the most enterprising men in Seattle, who believed in 
doing in the best manner whatever he attempted. The dwell- 
ing that he built was the finest of its day, his store building 
and hall were the same, and so likewise were his hotel build- 
ing, wharf and other undertakings. 

On the 22d of July, 1859, John H. Scranton gave to the 
Olympia and Steilacom people the opportunity of coming to 
Seattle on the new steamer Julia for the low price (at the 
time) of three dollars a person. Two hundred people availed 
themselves of the privilege. Scranton advertised up the Sound 
one of the attractions as follows : 

"In order to give zest to the entertainment, Dr. Maynard, 
hyas tyee of the Seattle tribe of Indians, will superintend the 
grand clam bake. The clams and other shellfish will be 
cooked on heated stones in the ancient style of the aborigines 
of our Territory." 

Seattle people made every effort to properly receive and 
care for their guests. A salute was fired from the wharf. Mrs. 
Terry threw open her house to the upper Sound ladies. The 
attractions of the town then consisted of the three wharfs — 
Yesler's, Horton's and Plummer's ; the Woodin tannery ; the 
Methodist church; the Yesler saw mill and cook house, and 
the old blockhouse fort, in addition to the stores, hotels and — 
saloons. Capt. A. C. Rand seemed to head the committee on 
reception and entertainment, members of which were the 
townsmen and townswomen generally. ' A free ball and sup- 
per were given in the Plummer Hall at night. All went on 
successfully and happily except the grand event — the clam 
bake. To the great disappointment of the citizens, and to 
Maynard's utter humiliation, the tides served badly. For sev- 
eral days they refused to go out so as to uncover the beds, 
and it was found to be impossible to obtain the shellfish requi- 
site for this feature of the day's program, upon which such 
great expectations had been based. 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 51 

It will be pardonable on the part of the author to say that 
the occasion of this excursion was his first visit to Seattle. 
His two older brothers and father were of the company. We 
boys, after looking over the town — the task of a few minutes 
only — decided that in standard Seattle was not up to our own 
Steilacoom. It was not so large, so well built, so clean, so 
handsome. Many of the houses were unpainted ; not one was 
plastered. By comparison we were proud of our home place. 
Seattle was not and never would be the equal of Steilacoom. 
Our exultation was beyond suppression or concealment. The 
town boys with whom we came in contact intuitively and 
otherwise were made aware of our feelings. They resented 
them. More than forty years afterwards C. H. Hanford, the 
present U. S. District Judge, told me that he and his young 
neighbors were then very anxious to tone us down ; they be- 
lieving that we were too cocky, and that a ride on a rail, duck- 
ing in the slough, Sunday clothes and all, and other perform- 
ances of like character, were due us as a part of our just en- 
tertainment, the lack of opportunity only preventing our re- 
ceiving the full measure of our desserts at their hands. Steil- 
acoom is today just as populous as it was then, and of less gen- 
eral importance. Seattle is — well, everybody knows. 

For many years Puget Sounders believed there was much 
gold on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountains, in what 
are now Kittitas, Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry and Stevens 
counties and Southern British Columbia, and every year there 
was talk of Swauk, Colville, Similkameen, Rock Creek, Wenat- 
chee and other places where it was supposed to be. Pros- 
pectors went there, and occasionally brought back exciting 
and sensational reports — 50 cents and $1 to the pan, and $20 
to $100 a day to the man. Seattle was eager to get a road 
thru the mountains, that it might share in the trade benefits 
sure some time to be derived. On the 20th of August a meet- 
ing was held for the purpose of getting the Snoqualmie road 
opened. Capt. Rand was chairman, Jasper W. Johnson, sec- 
retary, and L. D. Harris was made treasurer. J. C. Kellogg, 
A. A. Denny, F. Matthias, H. L. Yesler, D. S. Maynard and 
others were present. It was determined to open the road from 
the Snoqualmie Prairie to the eastern side, and the job was 



52 The Life of David 5. Maynard. 

placed in the hands of Timothy D. Hinckley. Maynard, Yes- 
ler and Matthias, as a committee, were put in general charge, 
and they expended $1,350 in opening the road to a point seven 
miles east of Lake Kichelas. They issued a report in which 
they told what had been done, and praised the route as cen- 
tral, practicable and available for immigrants, miners, traders 
and travelers to and from Seattle or the country to the south 
and north. The next year there was quite a rush to the Rock 
Creek diggings, and to other streams on the way. Plummer 
& Hinds sent two pack trains of fifteen animals each. Rob- 
ert Russell, Thomas S. Russell, Joseph Foster, J. C. Kellogg, 
Low, Richard, King and others went. The Yesler mill was 
short handed in consequence of the exodus. A single party 
numbered twenty-five men. It looked good for a few weeks. 
Portland, Victoria and Seattle planned and fixed themselves 
for a great rush of miners. But, like too many such affairs, 
it did not "pan out," and by the end of the season was known 
to be one more of the long list of mining failures. 

Return to Seattle; Business Efforts, Social Matters, etc. 

|PON resuming his residence in town, Maynard began 
about where he had left off. One of the first things 
was to start the King County Agricultural Society, 
in June, 1863. Then with Christian Clymer, Thomas M. Al- 
vord, Josiah H. Settle, Joseph Williamson, D. A. Neeley, 
Francis McNatt, Edmund Carr, S. F. Coombs and others the 
Society was organized. Maynard for a time was secretary and 
Clymer president. To reopen the hospital was another idea. 
From the earliest days he had occupied the field as physician 
and surgeon to the fullest extent possible. He had cared for 
the sane and the insane, the sick and the maimed, when no 
one else could or would. This was far back in the 50's. Now 
in the 6o's he resumed the difficult and disagreeable burden. 
In the first issue of the first Seattle newspaper — the Gazette 
of December 10th, 1863 — appeared his advertisement as phy- 
sician and surgeon, and the additional announcement that the 
Seattle Hospital would be opened on the 15th. The further 
statement was made that in connection with the hospital the 




The Life of David S. Maynard. 53 

lying-in apartment would be under the care of Mrs. C. T. 
Maynard, aided by suitable nurses. A fortnight later, the 
editor, J. R. Watson, mentioned a supper given at the Union 
Hotel to himself and friends by Dr. Maynard, who was said 
to have been that evening in one of his happiest, story-telling 
moods. The "boys" thought it a good joke on the Doctor to 
inveigle him into a funny society under the delusion that he 
was joining a secret organization devoted to the advancement 
of his political principles. He was surprised at the ludicrous 
character of the initiation, but he kept his temper and pre- 
tended to enjoy it as much as those engaged in directing and 
watching the mysterious performances. When A. S. Mercer 
arrived with his first company of young women from the 
Atlantic they were given a public reception, at which Dr. 
Maynard presided, Rev. Nehemiah Doane making an address 
of welcome, and Mercer responding for the ladies. Maynard 
was a devoted Mason, and promptly joined the first Seattle 
Lodge — St. John's, organized in i860. One of the last acts of 
his life was to deed to St. John's Lodge one of the very few 
lots he yet had remaining in his "town of Seattle." Shortly 
before his death the Masons determined upon having a ceme- 
tery. Maynard was one of the men who selected the land — 
the present Lakeview — and his own was the first body that 
was there interred. Among the later organizations of Seattle 
in which he took interest were the Seattle Library Association, 
and the first Society of Pioneers. Though an admitted attor- 
ney-at-law he made but little effort in that direction. In 1865, 
however, he formed a partnership with E. L. Bridges, as May- 
nard & Bridges, opening an office, and offering to practise as 
attorneys and counselors-at-law in all the courts of the Terri- 
tory. In 1870 he and Dr. Rust were associated in partnership 
as physicians. Of course, in a work like this it is impossible 
to mention more than a few of the deeds and associations of 
the subject of the narrative. For this reason many matters — 
some of importance and interest — concerning Dr. Maynard 
are necessarily omitted, and others reduced to the shortest 
possible mention. 



54 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

Strives to Get Land Title ; Loses Half of Donation Claim. 
URING all these years Maynard had been unable to 




perfect title to his land. He began promptly, and 
did all that he could, but there were delays at Wash- 
ington City to this day beyond understanding. He laid claim 
to 640 acres, in as nearly a square shape as possible, under 
the provisions of the first Oregon Donation Act, that of Sep- 
tember 2J, 1850. By the terms of this act, and of later acts 
amendatory of it, a man who was a resident of Oregon on or 
before December 1, 1850, was entitled to 320 acres of land on 
his own account, and if he were married then or within one 
year of that date his wife would also be entitled to 320 acres, 
they being settlers and occupants of the public lands. A posi- 
tive requirement of the law was that notice should be given 
by the settler of his claim on or before the 1st of December, 
1855, those who did not give such notice being forever de- 
barred from the benefit of the law. Maynard wanted the 320 
acres for his wife, and he tried to get the land for her, tho he 
apparently realized the difficulty in the way of so doing. The 
first Mrs. Maynard complied with none of the terms ; not 
residing upon the land herself, and being divorced before title 
inured to him. The second Mrs. Maynard might have ob- 
tained the land as the widow of Israel Broshears, but she 
made no such effort; she might also have obtained it as the 
wife of Maynard, had she married him sooner. Tho efforts 
were made in behalf of both women, both lost. Doctor May- 
nard accompanied his application with the necessary affidavit, 
made before H. L. Yesler, as Clerk of the Probate Court of 
King County, on the 26th of October, 1853, in which he told 
of both wives and both marriages, and gave the other neces- 
sary information. He used the expression that he "was in- 
termarried with Lydia A. Maynard, his first wife, until De- 
cember 24th, 1852," and further on said that he "is inter- 
married with Catherine T. Broshears, his second wife, and 
that he was legally married to her on the 15th day of January, 
1853." There was no intended deception in these statements,' 
but years afterwards the government land officers misunder- 
stood the first one, and reported that Maynard had sworn that 
his first wife had died on the 24th of December, 1852. Ban- 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 55 

croft and others have used this statement to the detriment of 
Maynard's reputation. Without entering into the detail of his 
divorce, he meant neither more nor less than he said, saying 
it in as few words as possible. The erroneous impression of 
the land officers put upon him the odium of a perjuror, which 
it is well here to remove. After he had been upon the land 
four years, as required, he made proof of residence from 
April 3d, 1852, to April 3d, 1856, and thirteen years later, 
May 14th, 1869, the Register and Receiver at Olympia issued 
certificate to David S. and Catherine T. Maynard, the hus- 
band to have the west half of the claim and the wife the east 
half. Two years later the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office got around to this case. When he saw the statement 
about Lydia A. Maynard he concluded at once that she had 
been upon the land, that she had died there, and that the half 
section belonged to her estate. He accordingly (July 21st, 
1871,) returned the papers to the Olympia office, and directed 
the officials there to make inquiries along the lines he indi- 
cated, particularly as to the heirs of the deceased Lydia A. 
Maynard. The Register and Receiver held this investigation 
on the 6th of March, 1872, when Lydia A. Maynard herself 
appeared before them, proved her marriage, and made demand 
for the apportionment to her of one-half the Maynard claim 
of 640 acres, asking that it be cut into north and south halves 
and one of the two assigned to her. She was represented by 
Col. C. H. Larrabee, as attorney, or by Larrabee & White, 
partners. Mr. James McNaught represented the opposition, 
in behalf of the Terry estate, Hugh McAleer and others who 
had bought from Maynard and did not want to lose their 
properties. The upshot of it at Olympia was that Register 
Clark and Receiver Stuart found that Lydia A. Maynard was 
entitled to one-half the claim, and they awarded her the east 
half, taking into account the fact that Maynard had sold all 
of the west half but two town lots, and that making division of 
the land into north and south halves would entail upon inno- 
cent parties a great deal of needless trouble. Before these 
proceedings at Olympia, however, there had been much agi- 
tation at Seattle for several months. A deed was filed from 
Lydia A. Maynard to Larrabee and two strangers on the 18th 



56 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

of November, 1871, of her right, title, interest and demand to 
her one-half part of David S. Maynard's donation claim. This 
was done by her as "the wife of David S. Maynard." The 
lawyer thought, perhaps, that this latter statement weakened 
the deed, as shortly after another deed was received from her 
substantially the same as the first in which that statement was 
omitted. In March, 1872, Lydia A. Maynard gave to Larrabee 
a strong and sweeping power of attorney to represent her 
and her interests in securing the wife's one-half part of the 
claim, to demand patent, plat, sell, and so forth. Of course, 
all this made much commotion in Seattle. The people chiefly 
concerned did not know what to say or do to protect their 
rights and save their landed possessions. The whole pro- 
ceeding was regarded with disfavor, and those engaged in it 
were viewed with suspicion. It was explained and reexplained 
and promises were made of conciliatory character. It was 
felt that if the new claimant from Wisconsin won her case the 
people of Seattle would have to pay. Quite a number went to 
her and got deeds, under the apprehension that she had rights 
in the land, and that the prudent thing to do was to deal with 
her in the beginning. Attorney McNaught, at Washington City, 
presented to the Commissioner of the General Land Office 
the appeal from that portion of the decision awarding to Lydia 
A. Maynard a half interst in the claim and the apportionment 
to her of the east half thereof. The Commission, on the 12th 
of August, decided in favor of D. S. Maynard for the west half 
of the claim, but against both women. Appeal being taken to 
the Secretary of the Interior, he, Columbus Delano, affirmed 
the decision of the Commissioner on the 1st of March, 1873. 
He found that "Maynard had fully complied with all the re- 
quirements of the law relating to settlement and cultivation." 
The title had not vested in him at the time of the divorce, the 
legality of which was not questioned, and Lydia A. Maynard 
could claim no interest in the land by virtue of her wifehood. 
Nor had she ever been upon the land, and therefore had no 
claim in her own right. The conditions prescribed by the" 
law "not having been complied with at the time of the divorce, 
the interest of Lydia in the premises was terminated by the 
dissolution of the marriage contract with David." As for the 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 



57 



t United States 0I America, 

To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: 

©RihCrCaS, There has been deposited in the General La^d Office of the United States a Certificate 
numbered ^fpt^uA/.. 

of the Regfster and Receiver *\.lLUUfvrrtrfZt^.^/2iL/<^^ it appears that under the 

provisions of the act of Congress ap^rovetf the 27th day of September, 1850, entitled "An Act to create the Office of 
Surveyor-GeneraTof the Public Lands in Oregon and to provide for the survey and to make donations to settlers of the 
said public landVVand tjie legislation supplemental thereto, the claim ofa^tz*<^.££.^k^s^!Z^^ 

Notification Na..^.(^ 




has been established to a donation of .<£-2i=£^. 



Z^. 



section, or^*fc£^ / ££^*z^l£££.j£?a«i&^5^ij^a<;res of land and that the same has been surveyed and designate^ 
according to the Official Plat of Purvey returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor-General, 






.<^^jdn... 



i\0tXJ nrtuttl tj£ t That the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in con- 
formity with the provisions of the act aforesaid, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant 

unto the 8aid^aLi?S*x s ^i2£^£2*^<~ft<s^^ ~ 

the tract of land above described, to have and to hold the said tract, with the appurtenances, unto the said 

cL^i^^t^.^^.-/^a^^z^t^^^ , 

and to>aita-— heirs and assigns forever. 

§n testimony mhtrtof, 

President of the United States, have caused these letters to be made patent, and the 
seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. 



(Sines under my hand at the City of Washington, this : 

day of g(/f^v-^.^/?/ _, in the year of our Lord one thousand 



under my hand at the Oi 
of j40&*C£*v*ut££/ML. 

. hundred and^^^^^SJ&fe^T...... and of the Independe 



oMhe United States the one hundred and 



By the President: 



£j| 



Copy of D. S. Maynard's Land Patent. 



Steretary. 
Recorder of the General Land Office. 



58 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

second wife the decision was that she was "not entitled be- 
cause she was not the wife of the applicant on the first day of 
December, 1850, or within one year from that date. The act 
was evidently intended to limit the additional 320 acres to 
cases where the person was married before the 1st of Decem- 
ber, 185 1." This decision ended the contention as far as the 
west half of the claim was concerned. The fight for the east 
half spread over a period of thirty years, and was engaged in 
by the city of Seattle, Hugh McAleer, C. M. Bywater, the 
heirs of Lydia A. Maynard, Harry C. Algar, J. Vance Lewis 
and W. C. Hill. With the help of attorneys and under the 
various land laws the struggle was carried before the land 
officials of the government and in the courts, the claimants 
one after another being eliminated until their number was re- 
duced to the three last named, to whom awards were ulti- 
mately made. It may be truthfully said that including taxes, 
the cost of litigation and all other expenses, this land has to 
this date been of more burden than benefit to its claimants 
and possessors — something that cannot be said of land else- 
where in the city of Seattle. The issuance of patent to the 
Doctor's half of the claim was delayed three years longer, until 
the 14th of December, 1876. He had then been long in his 
grave, and was therefore denied the satisfaction of witnessing 
the final outcome of his efforts to secure a Donation claim, of 
holding in his hand the deed from the government promised 
him by the law nearly a quarter of a century before. May-- 
nard was the only one of the original Seattle town site claim- 
ants who was entitled to the larger bounty of the government 
— 640 acres — and he was also the only one who was deprived 
of the half of the land promised him by reason of his migra- 
tion to and settlement in the country in 1850. The outcome 
was pitiful, but it seemed to be unavoidable. 

Death Claims and Removes the Pioneer. 

HETHER or not his troubles during the years 1871- 
? 72-'73 hastened his death cannot, of course, be told. 
It is not at all unlikely that they did. He bore up 
under them bravely, presented to the public as strong a front 
as possible, and was as light hearted, or pretended to be, as 




The Life of David S. Maynard. 59 

ever. The burden he carried was a heavy one, and in the end 
it proved too much for his strength. A physical ailment was 
aggravated. He weakened rapidly, and on Thursday evening, 
March 13th, 1873, his spirit took its flight. The tender, com- 
passionate feelings of the community were aroused in his 
behalf, and at his demise there was general and generous 
exhibition of them. The funeral services were held in the 
Yesler pavilion on the 15th, conducted by Rev. John F. Da- 
mon, and participated in by all the town. Places of business 
were closed. The procession was headed by the Seattle band, 
and two of the principal features of it were St. John's and 
Kane Lodges of Masons. The new Masonic cemetery not 
being ready, the body of the Doctor for a few days was placed 
in the toolhouse of the old cemetery, now known as Denny 
Park. His first wife, Lydia A., did not long survive him, she 
dying at her home in Wisconsin in 1875. The second wife, 
Catherine T., is yet (1906) living. 

Characteristics and Anecdotes of Maynard. 

OCTOR DAVID S. MAYNARD was a man of 
marked individuality and of strong characteristics. 
He was richly endowed with good qualities. No one 
could be more liberal and tfind than he. This disposition on 
his part constantly led to impoverishment. He could not say 
no to those asking his services, his moneys, his lands and 
personal possessions. Had others treated him as well as he 
treated them he would have been rich all his life, and instead 
of dying poor would have left one of the best estates in the 
Territory. He was fearless. There was evidence of this from 
the beginning. It showed very plainly in the long, dangerous 
trip across the continent. The lack of money, the cholera, 
Indians, storms, rough waters were to all appearances the 
same to him as the ordinary and less exciting or depressing 
events of the road. In war, in peace, in business, in all the 
affairs of life, he was the same hearty, courageous man. He 
was affectionate. Tho he separated from his first wife the 
fault is not believed to have been his. He treated her better 
than she treated him. Not a word did he at any time utter 




60 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

against her, nor did he ever do anything hostile to her inter- 
ests. He cared for his children tenderly until they were 
grown, and afterwards did what he could for them, tho his 
abilities then were small. The second Mrs. Maynard was 
always sure there was no better man on earth. His good 
nature and good humor were unfailing and irrepressible. The 
day his first wife came to Seattle, in March, 1872, he stepped 
into the barber shop, and said : "Dixon, fix me up in your 
best style." "What's up, Doctor? What are you going to 
do?" "I am going to give the people here a sight they never 
had before, and may never have again. I'm going to show 
them a man walking up the street with, a wife on each arm." 
Sure enough ; when the steamer came in from the upper 
Sound Maynard and his second wife were there to meet the 
first wife, and they walked together to his home where they 
dwelt until Lydia A. left on her return to Wisconsin, some- 
what to the surprise and amusement of the general public. 
One would not suppose that he would have felt at all jocose 
under the circumstances, but if he did not there was no be- 
trayal of his real feelings. He was a home buyer, a protec- 
tionist, a friend to his nearest neighbors. Stepping into a 
shop one day he told the keeper, whom he had been patron- 
izing for years, that he would not see him there any more. 
"Why, Doctor? What's the matter?" inquired his astonished 
friend. "We are going to have a shop in Maynardtown, and 
I always stand by my own side and help my own people," the 
Doctor replied. The shop he was giving up was on Yesler's 
land, about sixty feet from "Maynardtown." It was always 
this way with him. He favored the United States above all 
other nations ; Washington Territory above all other Ameri- 
can commonwealths ; Seattle above all other towns or cities ; 
and his own nearest neighbors above all other peoples. In his 
willingness, or desire, to help the needy, the unhappy, the 
unfortunate, he sometimes went too far, beyond the limits of 
prudence and wisdom. A youthful pair from the upper Sound 
one day made sudden appeal to him. They were anxious to 
marry; the girl's father had refused his consent, and they 
were sure he was then pursuing them, his objection being her 



The Life of David S. Maynard. 61 

lack of age. Maynard's sympathies were at once excited. He 
wrote on two pieces of paper the figures "18," and saw the 
girl put them on the inside soles of her shoes. When the 
minister, being doubtful, asked as to her age, Maynard said 
that he did not know exactly, but he was sure "she was over 
18." Not long after the angry father came along, and he both 
censured and threatened the Rev. Daniel Bagley for what 
he had done. The preacher took him to Dr. Maynard, who 
laughingly told of the stratagem he had practised and pro- 
ceeded to justify it. As is the case generally in such affairs, 
the parent was compelled to accept the situation, and, dropping 
his opposition, make the best of it. Maynard's course in this 
affair was one that the most friendly biographer could not 
excuse. It illustrates, however, one of the most prominent 
features of his character, that led him more often to the com- 
mission of good acts than of bad. As a physician Seattle had 
no better during his time. He was one of the olden school, 
not the modern, which relies too much upon surgery, upon 
the use of the knife and the saw. Nor was he a great medi- 
cine doser. He depended largely upon the most simple means 
— upon pleasant surroundings, a cheerful atmosphere, confi- 
dence upon the part of the patient, the alleviation of pain, 
fresh air, sanatory conditions, and occasionally a bit of par- 
donable deception. Many a person who imagined himself or 
herself dangerously ill was cured by him with a prescription 
of water, disguised, perhaps, by the addition of a little salt or 
other harmless ingredient. He wanted people to live well, 
and he lived well himself, the only exception being the habit 
of drinking spirituous liquor in excessive quantities ; a habit 
which grew upon him in the later years of his life, but whch 
was never known to result in injury to others. In fact, it was 
a local joke that Maynard was a better physician when full 
than when sober, and a similar comparison was often made 
by the same jokers between him and more temperate physi- 
cians, which was very hard for the latter to bear. None of the 
first people had more enterprise than he. He was the first of 
many things. In Seattle he was the first of the immigrants, 
coming one, two or three years before his contemporaries, 



62 The Life of David S. Maynard. 

the first professional man, first official, first employer, first 
real estate seller, first merchant, the first in and of a great 
number of movements and undertakings of business, social 
and public character. There was no holding back with him. 
If a thing was desirable, he was in favor of it; if wanted, he 
would go at once ; if it had to be done, or it was well to do it, 
he was ready to devote to it his money to the last dollar. His 
usefulness in his latter days was considerably lessened by his 
lack of means. By that time, however, the solidity of the 
town was established, its great future was assured, and there 
were others able and willing to direct events and carry the 
burden without that assistance which he would have gladly 
given had he been able. Under all the circumstances it is 
not astonishing that Maynard possessed the sympathies of the 
people ; that they sincerely regretted his misfortunes ; that 
they mourned his departure as that of a true friend and of a 
public benefactor ; and that his memory has remained with his 
surviving acquaintances green, fresh and pleasant to this day. 




MRS. CATHERINE T. MAYNARD IN 1865. 



CATHERINE TROUTMAN MAYNARD 



Born and Reared in Kentucky; Married in Illinois. 

I ^a i "t CENTURY ago they had large families in Kentucky. 
I NnL One °^ these was the Troutman family. Michael 
|jC^P^ Troutman was twice married, and had ten children by 
each wife. It is said of him that he got together most of his 
descendants at the home farm, in Bullitt County, on Christ- 
mas day of 1813. Ten of his children were present, ninety 
grand children, nineteen great grandchildren, and three great 
great grandchildren. All of the 122 sat down to dinner with 
their progenitor in the one dining room, the length of which 
was eighty feet, the house being a three-story brick as large 
as a European castle. There probably never was a more 
remarkable family reunion in the United States. Grandfather 
Troutman, as he was generally known in his later years, lived 
to the age of 89, while Grandmother Troutman lived to be 
96. Their landed possessions were vast, including, it is stated, 
30,000 acres. Another large family was the Simmons's. They 
lived in Meade County, about twenty miles from Louisville. 
In its various branches were eight, ten and twelve children. 
Michael Troutman Simmons was the father of twelve, and 
his father was one of ten children. They also were well off, 
having three plantations, one being devoted to cotton, one to 
hemp and one to corn. Three hundred negro slaves were a 
part of the Simmons family possessions. The Simmons and 
Troutman families were allied by marriage. 

One of the members of these large and wealthy families 
was Catherine Troutman Simmons, sister of the Michael T. 
Simmons referred to. She was born on her mother's planta- 
tion in Meade County on the 19th of July, 1816. There she 
was brought up, educated and lived for fifteen years. Desire 
for a change came upon them, and in consequence the family 
moved to Pike County, Illinois, in 183 1. Mr. Simmons died, 
and the mother remarried, her second husband being James 



66 The Life of Catherine T . Maynard. 

Morton, said to have been a cousin of Senator Morton of 
Indiana. On the 6th of December, 1832, Catherine was mar- 
ried to Israel Broshears. Her father and mother gave her a 
grand wedding. There were four bridesmaids and four 
groomsmen, and a great number of guests, dinner being served 
to all the company. Broshears was a pilot on the Mississippi 
river, down to New Orleans. After marriage he became a 
farmer. 

Migrate to Oregon; Cholera and Death on the Plains. 




R. and Mrs. Broshears lived in Illinois until 1849. 

They were then taken with the Pacific coast fever. 

They prepared that year for the journey across the 
plains and mountains to Oregon. Michael T. Simmons had 
gone on ahead, in 1844, and Andrew Jackson Simmons, his 
brother, had followed five years later. Mr. and Mrs. Morton 
and several other Mortons and Broshears now made ready 
to go, and with them were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Rider, she 
being a Simmons by birth. He was blind. They left Pike 
County, Illinois, in December, for Jackson County, Missouri, 
where further arrangements were made for the journey before 
them. Intending to go slowly, and take plenty of time, they 
made an early start, on the 226. of March, 1850. It would 
have been better for them if they had gone more rapidly, as 
they would then have avoided the cholera which assailed them 
with great virulence before they were half way over the road. 
When near Fort Kearney, the latter part of the first week in 
June, Israel Broshears was taken with cholera, and after him 
six members of their party, with fatal results. They inquired 
for a doctor at once, and were told of one who was riding 
along on a mule not far away. He was called, being taken 
first to Mrs. Morton, who was then near death. "Never mind 
me," she said, "but look after my widowed daughter, my 
daughter with the blind husband and the others. You can 
do nothing for me. I am going. Help them, Doctor. Don't 
desert my children." A stream of rapidly-moving immigrants 
passed by. "Hurry on !" they shouted. "Leave the dead !" 
"Save yourselves!". "You'll die if you stop to bury them!" 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 67 

"Help you? No!" Past the plague spot they went, in abject 
terror, whipping their animals to hasten their movements to 
the utmost. But Mrs. Broshears would not go until her hus- 
band, her mother and the others were buried by the roadside, 
their bodies as safe as they could be made from the teeth of 
wolves and the scalping knives of Indians. The Doctor ren- 
dered all the service he could, to the living and to the dead, 
and then rode on to rejoin his own party. He told of the 
promise of help that Mrs. Morton had exacted from him, and 
of his determination to keep his word good by giving to the 
stricken people all the aid in his power to the end of their 
journey. Getting together his few things, he returned to the 
Morton-Broshears-Rider company, placed them in her wagon 
and took charge. She had five yoke of oxen, two yoke of cows, 
a large, strong wagon, and a first-class equipment. Had they 
possessed less there was then opportunity for getting more 
merely for the taking. The cholera destroyed whole families 
in some cases, and in others there was such decimation of the 
trains that it became necessary to leave by the wayside much 
that could no longer be cared for. Wagons were abandoned 
in some instances, with all their contents. Goods were thrown 
out to lighten other vehicles, that faster traveling could be 
done. In the effort to get away as quickly as possible from 
the accursed place, every manner of relief was sought. The 
widow found in the beginning that the Doctor (David S. May- 
nard) was not a first class teamster. In fact, it was his first 
experience with an ox team, and to put a novice in charge of 
seven yoke of cattle under such circumstances was imposing 
a burden and strain upon him of momentous character. He 
soon learned the business, however, becoming an expert in 
the line long before he reached the Columbia river. He made 
up for lost time ; he passed numerous parties on the road, 
and he drove into The Dalles on the 16th of September. He 
also was given practise in milking cows, which animals in 
their way did much to render the trip endurable, and at times 
pleasant. The Doctor sold the cattle and wagon at The 
Dalles, and provided for transportation the rest of the way 
by water to Vancouver and Cowlitz river. Mrs. Broshears 
found it convenient to leave everything to him. He proved to 



68 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 

be thoroly capable, and in every way worthy of the trust. It 
should be said, however, that on the road they picked up a 
man by somewhat singular accident who served them faith- 
fully to the end. George Benton, a nephew of Senator Thomas 
H. Benton, had started with another party which met disaster 
in the river South Platte. Several wagons and animals were 
lost at a supposed ford, where the water was both deep and 
strong. Benton saved his life and his horse, but lost all else, 
including shoes, coat and hat, and being left entirely alone on 
one side of the river. He, perhaps, saved the Broshears-Mor- 
ton people a similar misfortune by pointing out the danger, 
and he immediately took service with them at $18 a month 
and clothes, the latter being an advance payment that was 
absolutely necessary. When he got to Portland Benton went 
into the timber trade, received high wages, saved his money, 
and in a few years was comparatively rich. After leaving the 
canoe on the upper Cowlitz, they rode to John R. Jackson's 
on horses. He made them welcome, and gave them assist- 
ance to Ford's. At Judge Ford's (Sidney S.) they met A. J. 
Simmons, then on his way from Puget Sound to meet his 
mother, sisters and other relatives and friends from the East. 
The story they told him of the calamity that had befallen them, 
of the losses they had sustained, and of the awful troubles 
they had endured, were a surprise to him he had not contem- 
plated, and a blow of appalling character. The blanket which 
Mrs. Broshears sat on from the Cowlitz river had a side saddle 
placed upon it at Judge Ford's, and the remainder of the ride 
into Olympia was thereby rendered much more comfortable. 

Life in a Primitive but Ambitious Town. 




HEN Mrs. Broshears arrived at Olympia, on the 25th 
of September, 1850, she found it a very insignificant 
place, in the first days of its existence as a town, or 
a settlement called a town. Prior to this date, Newmarket 
was the center of population and trade for the upper Sound. 
It was two miles further inland, on the Deschutes river and at 
its mouth. There, on a claim located by Michael T. Simmons, 
had been built small saw and grist mills, on account of the 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 69 

water power, and in addition were a store, a few dwellings, 
and close by, on Bush prairie, several farms. The name was 
afterwards changed from Newmarket to Tumwater. Sim- 
mons had recently sold the greater part of his properties and 
rights there to Capt. Clanrick Crosby, for $35,000, and about 
the time of the coming of his relatives had moved down to the 
new place, then started by Edmund Sylvester. Sylvester was 
so anxious to get Simmons and his store that he gave the 
necessary land, two lots, at First and Main streets, where Sim- 
mons built a two-story house of 20 by 40 feet, in which he 
opened a store, having taken in a partner named Chas. Hart 
Smith. Smith was a smart fellow, who bought the store goods 
in San Francisco, who sold them at Olympia, and who, if he 
had remained and been honest, would undoubtedly have been 
one of the leading men of the Territory and State of Wash- 
ington. It is said to have been through his insistence that 
the town was called Olympia, Isaac N. Ebey suggesting the 
name instead of Smithfield, by which the place had been 
known for a number of years. Simmons & Smith made money 
fast, and after a couple of years Smith went to San Francisco 
to again buy goods, taking cash and credits to the amount of 
$60,000, belonging chiefly to the two Simmons's and Joseph 
Broshears. He kept the money and never returned, his asso- 
ciates too late learning that his act was only a breach of trust 
and not criminally punishable. M. T. Simmons was ruined 
pecuniarily. During the two or three years Mrs. Broshears 
lived there, Olympia grew, a hotel being built by Sylvester, 
other places of business being opened, a newspaper estab- 
lished, and the place becoming known as the chief town of 
Northern Oregon. Simmons, by far the most prominent man, 
endeavored to keep his mercantile affairs going. He was 
postmaster. In partnership with Hugh A. Goldsborough he 
was trying to do business in real estate, and they were also 
ship agents. In September, 1852, they were advertising a 
ship from London, the John Brewer, and they were also offer- 
ing cargo space on her for the return trip. Elwood Evans, 
Parker & Colter, George A. Barnes, W. W. Miller, S. P. 
Moses, Quincy A. Brooks, Samuel D. Howe, Wm. Billings, 
Chas. E. Weed, the Sargents, Close, Williams and many 




70 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 

others settled there, or near there, during the time referred 
to. M. M. Smith sailed a boat, called by him a yacht, named 
the Laplete, carrying Smith's Express, passengers and freight 
from Olympia to Port Townsend, by way of Poe's Point, John- 
son's Ranch, Nisqually, Steilcoom, New York and Whidby 
Island. Seattle and Tacoma were not on Capt. Smith's map. 

Romance and Marriage; Unfortunate Opposition. 

JOT-WITHSTANDING the newness of things and 
their primitive character, life at the upper end of 
Puget Sound was not uninteresting to the widow. 
Men were many enough compared wth women, there prob- 
ably being three or four to one. Women were correspond- 
ingly in favor. Nothing was too good for them. They could 
have what they wished for the asking. Mrs. Broshears soon 
found herself to be in high favor with the bachelors and 
widowers, and she was evidently regarded by them as a 
"catch" of the best character. Her people speedily saw the 
trend of affairs, and they tried to direct it into quarters to 
suit themselves and their own ideas of propriety and personal 
desirability. They found out that the beginning of a romance 
had developed on the plains, east of the Rocky Mountains, and 
that it had attained with the passage of weeks and months 
such life and strength as to be quite serious. Knowing that 
Dr. Maynard was a married man, from his own admissions, 
they disapproved the bent of inclination shown by him and 
their widowed sister. They made suggestions of other men, 
introduced them, and did what they could to break up the con- 
templated alliance between Maynard and Mrs. Broshears. 
They restrained her somewhat of her liberty, and prevented 
her going with him when they could. More than once they 
were on the verge of stopping by force the marriage. Mrs. 
Rider threatened to shoot Dr. Maynard. The latter was not 
intimidated, no more by white men and women than by In- 
dians or disease. Though M. T. Simmons was a foot the taller 
of the two, and a giant in strength, he was unable to alarm 
or keep away the Doctor. The latter offered to get a divorce. 
When he left Ohio he said he did not intend to go back to his 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 71 

wife. She understood that they were separated ; he knew that 
they were. He would treat Mrs. Broshears honorably, would 
marry with her, and in most correct manner would end the 
trouble. The widow told her relatives that she would marry 
Dr. Maynard or no one. He went to California ; returned to 
Olympia ; moved to Seattle ; got his divorce from the Oregon 
Legislature, and on the 15th of January, 1853, he and Mrs. 
Broshears were married near Bush Prairie, in Thurston 
County, by the Rev. Benjamin F. Close, in the presence of A. 
J. Simmons, Gabriel Jones and wife, and Joseph Broshears 
and wife. Five days later they were at their new home in the 
new town of Seattle. It would have been vastly better for 
their sister if the Simmons opposition to her second marriage 
had not been so prolonged. She was entitled to 320 acres 
of government land in her own personal right as a "settler or 
occupant." She was also entitled to the land as the widow of 
Israel Broshears. And further, she would have been entitled 
to it as the wife of David S. Maynard. There was a time 
condition to each of these provisions of the law. She was 
prevented from exercising the rights first mentioned, and the 
last one, as Mrs. Maynard, was lost through delay alone. If 
she had been married on or before the 1st of December, 1851, 
as she wanted to be, she would have secured 320 acres of land 
in the city of Seattle worth today two million or more dollars. 
It was very unfortunate for her. It also involved her in in- 
numerable and distressing troubles needless here to specially 
mention. Her case illustrates how liable people are to err 
when their intentions are the very best and they are exercis- 
ing the utmost possible caution. 

Mrs. Maynard at Home in Seattle. 

FTER her experience in Illinois, on the plains and in 
Thurston County, Mrs. Maynard was prepared to 
pioneer it anywhere. She assumed the duties of her 
new position at once, uncomplainingly, with the understand- 
ing that she was located for life at a point where a great city 
was to be built, and that she was a partner n the enterprise 
and was to be one of the helpers in the work. So she sold 




72 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 

goods in the store, induced people to locate in their part of 
the town, as nurse helped her husband in his professional 
business, and did whatever she could to advance his plans 
and increase their mutual prosperity. In September, 1853, 
she went with Dr. Maynard up Duwamish river, and thence 
by Black river to Lake Washington, she being the first white 
woman to see or touch the waters of that lake, this being on 
the 20th of the month. Dr. Maynard, according to her, was 
the person who gave the name to what is now known as Cedar 
river and lake. In 1854 she and her husband visited San Fran- 
cisco, going and returning by sail vessel. One of the first 
persons Mrs. Maynard here became acquainted with was the 
daughter of her husband's Indian friend, Seattle, the woman 
to whom later attached the name Angeline. The two women 
were about the same age, though Angeline always looked 
the older. Mrs. Maynard gave her new acquaintance instruc- 
tions in modern housewifery, and it was under her guidance 
that Angeline became an expert washerwoman, enabling her 
to assist the women of the town in their laundry work until 
her increasing age and debilities compelled her to cease. 
Their friendship continued warm and intimate to the end of 
the Indian woman's life, more than forty years later. 



War; Life Among the Indians; Act of Heroism; Stories of 

Savages. 

5JHE coming on of the Indian war of i855-'56 inter- 
fered greatly with the growth of the town and the 
plans of the townspeople, including the Maynards. 




The Doctor was appointed as agent in charge of the Indians 
at Seattle and in the vicinity, but with place of residence and 
office on the reservation near Port Madison. There, sur- 
rounded by fifteen hundred Indians and with thousands more 
within twenty miles, many of whom were openly hostile and 
more secretly so, he and his wife dwelt for a year and a half, 
the only people of their race on or near the ground. They had 
the friendship of Chief Seattle, and he had absolute control 
and power over the natives under him. So, as far as his tribe 
was concerned, the Maynards were safe. In addition, they 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 73 

had the protection of that thing of mystery to the savages — 
the government — and besides the Doctor, as agent, was in 
constant receipt and had the distribution of rations. The 
Indians were not like the individual who killed the goose that 
laid the golden eggs. The man who had the rations to give 
out was safe among them except in the case of hostile visitors, 
fanatics or other excited, unbalanced creatures. More, still, 
the Doctor was a "medicine man," with an influence thereby 
of unquestioned character, added to which was the recollec- 
tion of past favors, courage of high order and politic man- 
ners impressive and pleasing to the red men. During the 
progress of hostilities Chief Seattle kept in constant touch 
with the Indians in and about the town named after him. He 
was aware of the doings and plans of Leschi, Nelson, Patka- 
nim and the rest, from his messengers, who in turn went freely 
among both natives and settlers. T)n the 25th of January, 
1856, he knew that a large number of warlike Indians were 
hovering in the woods back of the town, waiting favorable 
opportunity to make attack, and, if possible, capture the place 
and destroy it and its people. He communicated his knowl- 
edge to Agent Maynard. At the same time Gov. Stevens, 
accompanied by Capt. E. D. Keyes, in command of Fort 
Steilcoom, M. T. Simmons, Truman H. Fuller and others, 
was on board the United States Steamer Active, in the har- 
bor of Seattle, counselling with the people of the town and 
with Capt. Guert Gansevoort, of the United States Ship De- 
catur, as to the war and the local situation. Stevens believed, 
or pretended to believe, that there was no immediate danger 
at Seattle, and he went on to the north to visit the reserva- 
tions he had in view. At the Port Madison reservation he 
invited Dr. Maynard to join the party, but the Doctor declined, 
saying that his presence on the reservation was of some im- 
portance, but that on the ship it would be of none, and that 
he feared trouble was near at hand. The Active steamed on. 
The agent and his wife discussed the situation, and concluded 
that warning from them to the people on the east side of the 
Sound was due. Indians upon whom they could rely were 
called in, and as a result a canoe was got ready in the dark- 
ness of the night for the fourteen-mile trip across the stormy 



74 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 

waters. Sally, the daughter of old Chief Kitsap, said also to 
have been a cousin of Angeline, was captain, and under her 
were five other women and one man. Mrs. Maynard was the 
one passenger, she going as a courier or messenger to convey 
word of the threatened attack upon the town. The wind blew 
fiercely that night. The waves rolled high. With all their 
strength and skill the Indians could hardly keep their frail 
vessel afloat and moving. At one time they were blown upon 
West Point. Hostile Indians were there, and they examined 
the party. Finding that they were women and only one man 
they let them go. Before doing so, however, they inquired 
what was under the mats on the bottom of the canoe. Sally 
told them clams. In truth, it was Mrs. Maynard secreted there 
by Sally when she found that they were in danger. After a 
hard struggle the canoe was placed alongside the Decatur. 
Mrs. Maynard told the men on guard that she must see Capt. 
Gansevoort. He was wakened and acquainted with her and 
the object of her visit. She gave him a letter from Agent 
Maynard. The Captain had hot coffee and food provided for 
the Indians, and he urged Mrs. Maynard to stay at least until 
daylight. She said no, that she must be back by six in the 
morning, before daylight, so that her trip would not be known 
among the reservation Indians. On the return the wind blew 
harder than before, but it was a stern wind, and though dan- 
gerous, did not prevent arrival of the party before dawn. 
When the guns of the Decatur were heard booming an hour 
or two later, Chief Seattle was in great distress, and made 
pitiful demonstrations of the anguish he was in. He always 
felt his responsibility for the Indians under him, and he was 
sure now that it was a serious moment with them. Nor did 
he want his white friends hurt. That the differences between 
the two races would pass away gradually and easily was his 
hope and prayer. Nearly half a century later a bill was intro- 
duced in Congress by Representative J. H. Lewis to give Mrs. 
Maynard one thousand dollars as compensation for her haz- 
ardous and extraordinary services on this occasion. The bill, 
tho, did not pass. So firm was Gov. Stevens in the conviction 
that there was no longer danger from the Indians at this 
point that, upon his return, on the 27th, he was quite incred- 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 75 

ulous, and could hardly be made to believe that the day before 
they had attacked the fortified and garrisoned town of Seattle, 
and that had it not been for the protection afforded by the 
warship, her great guns and one hundred and fifty men, they 
possibly might have overcome the citizens, destroyed the 
place and massacred all the people, about two hundred in 
number. 

It was real heroism that led Mrs. Maynard to doubly risk 
her life at this time. She had little chance against the gale 
she was facing, and none whatever against the savages had 
she but fallen into their hands. How near she came to the 
latter mishap has been related. Only sheer necessity; the 
strong love she bore to her neighbors and friends in the town ; 
the desire she had to frustrate the wicked plans of the hostile 
Indians, knowledge of which had come to her; could have 
nerved her to run the risks and make the effort required of 
her in this undertaking. That she was entirely successful is 
one of the happy events in the history of Seattle. Mrs. May- 
nard's life upon the reservation in January, 1856, was not so 
assured, comfortable and cheerful as may be imagined. Early 
in the month John Swan, agent near Steilcoom, was captured 
by Chief Leschi, who told him that he was after other agents 
as well. One of these was reported to be Maynard. Before 
he could accomplish this purpose, however, Leschi was driven 
back into the timber on the east side. Owhi was on Lake 
Washington at the time with a band of Yakimas and Klikitats, 
plotting, scheming and working for the destruction of the set- 
tlements. His emissaries were sent in every direction among 
the friendly Indians for the purpose of inciting them to deeds 
of violence like unto his own. Over and over again they ap- 
peared on the Port Madison reservation. Word of their pres- 
ence was always brought to the Maynards by order of Seattle, 
with advice to keep indoors, to extinguish their lights and take 
other precautions. The Doctor never went out of evenings 
without being done up in a blanket, disguised as one of the 
tribe. His wife was dressed like a squaw for weeks. They 
had no fear of the Suquamish Indians — of Seattle, Angeline, 
Sally and the others — but they knew not at what moment 
they might come in contact with the Robbers (the meaning of 



76 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard, 

Klikitats) of Eastern Washington, who were desperate, devil- 
ish and dangerous. A few days before the attack upon the 
town of Seattle three of these Klikitat warriors and one 
woman arrived on the reservation. As usual, their coming 
created a tremendous sensation. It soon became reported that 
they were there for the purpose of assassinating Chief Seattle 
and Agent Maynard ; their idea being that as a result of the 
uproar that would follow the warship Decatur, and possibly 
some of the citizens of the town, would be sent there to quiet 
and settle the disorder, and that their absence would give 
favorable opportunity for attacking and taking the town. 
AVhether true or not, the report greatly excited the reservation 
Indians, who at once seized their weapons and started out in 
defense of their chief. The Klikitats became alarmed and 
fled, getting to their canoe, and paddling away rapidly as they 
could for Shilshole bay. About the same time there came 
report of another affair of unpleasant character. Gov. Stevens, 
as commander-in-chief of the Territorial forces, endeavored to 
array Indians against Indians, for the protection of his own 
countrymen. Companies were organized to fight the hostiles, 
and as inducement to them and compensation for their ser- 
vices, rewards were offered for the slaying of the enemies. 
It is said that one hundred dollars was the price for each dead 
Indian. Patkanim, chief of the Snoqualmies, who was bitterly 
opposed to Leschi, accepted a commission of this kind. For 
the purpose of seeing that he did what was right he was 
accompanied for a time by M. T. Simmons, Luther M. Collins, 
Truman H. Fuller and others. His warfare was not of the 
most approved kind, was timid when it should have been 
brave, was noisy when it should have been quiet and was in- 
effective when it should have been full of accomplishment. At 
one time he had some captives, or he pretended to have, and 
to get his pay killed the unfortunates in the most cold-blooded 
manner imaginable. In the presence of Col. Simmons he had 
five of them laid out on the ground. With sharp knives and 
axes he cut off their heads, which he threw into a sack, as a 
farmer would throw in rutabaga turnips, and then sent them 




The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 11 

to the Governor as proof of the justice of his demand for pay. 
It was with good reason suspected at the time that the slaugh- 
tered Indians were slaves that Patkanim had had in his. cus- 
tody for years, who perhaps had outlived their usefulness, and 
whose disposal of in this way would be quite advantageous to 
the Snoqualmie chief. With such stories in circulation, and 
with the excitements and wild scenes about her, it is aston- 
ishing that Mrs. Maynard could have done what she did on 
this occasion. Few women would have been equal to the de- 
mand, and not many men. A full measure of credit should be 
awarded to her by the community she then so faithfully served. 



At Alki Point; in Town Again; Widowed; Free Reading 

Room. 

HE Doctor and Mrs. Maynard stayed on the reserva- 
tion a year and a half. Soon after their return to 
town exchange was made with Charles C. Terry of 
the unplatted portion of the Doctor's claim for Terry's claim 
at Alki Point. The Maynards got more land, but Terry got 
more value. For six years the Alki place was occupied, Dr. 
Maynard trying to do fine farming, and his wife keeping the 
house in good style, and helping outside when able. Both 
were glad to get back to town in 1863, where the old life was 
resumed with such modifications as were necessitated by the 
changed condition of affairs ; the town having grown, the 
University being establshed, a newspaper started, a number 
of steamboats appearing, the Freeport and Blakely sawmills 
building near by, many new settlers in town and country, 
and other signs and evidences of growth and development 
that gave proof to them of the correctness of their location 
ideas in 1852-3. In the first King County fair, held about 
this time, Mrs. Maynard entered a number of articles of her 
handiwork. The cake contest was quite spirited, but the 
premium was awarded to her. In 1867, November 15th, her 
brother, Col. M. T. Simmons, died at his home in Lewis 
County, respected as his distinguished services to the Terri- 
tory justified. She and her husband then made an extended 

LOFC. 



78 The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 

visit to his (Simmons's) family and home. From the earliest 
years Dr. Maynard had cared for the maimed and sick, at his 
dwelling 1 , or in so-called hospitals, his wife always assisting, 
and becoming by her practise there as nurse, and by her ob- 
servation and study, a good deal of a physician herself. So 
strong has been her leaning in that direction that to this day 
she has not been able to restrain a propensity to "doctor" all 
her- friends, advising them, prescribing for them, and even 
compounding medicines for them, in the effort to cure the 
ills from which they were suffering. The home of the May- 
nards was in the middle of the block on the east side of First 
Avenue South between Main and Jackson streets. There 
they lived until his death in 1873, and there she lived a num- 
ber of years longer. The last thing she did there was to start 
a free reading room. In a large, light apartment, opening 011 
the street, she placed tables and chairs, procured books, mag- 
azines and newspapers, and invited the public to use them. 
For a year or more, in 1875-6, Mrs. Maynard kept the place 
open, clean, warm and pleasant. Her example had effect with 
others, the result being the establishment of the Young Men's 
Christian Association by Dexter Horton and associates, who 
took from Mrs. Maynard the burden she had carried so long. 
The magnificent tree and fine fruit that have come from the 
seed thus planted by this poor woman are known to all. "The 
widow's mite" was greater for good than the proud wealth 
of many of her townsmen. Her health had become weakened 
in the meantime, and, under the pressure of necessity for a 
change, she went to Eastern Washington. For about twenty 
years she dwelt alternately at Ellensburg, Medical Lake and 
Seattle, making her trips over the mountains on horseback 
as though she were a young woman of 20 to 40 years instead 
of the mature woman of 60 to 80. Her appearance on these 
occasions, riding gaily on her pony up to the homes of the 
McDonalds on Second avenue near Columbia street, the 
Meydenbauers, at Third and Columbia, the Kelloggs, at 
Fourth and Madison, and other of the first families, cannot 
be forgotten by her old-time friends. 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard. 



79 





80 The Life of Catherine T, Maynard. 

Rounding Out a Long, Interesting and Useful Life. 

URING the past ten years she has been living quietly 
in Seattle, at the corner of Cherry street and Broad- 
way. Notwithstanding her age and frailties she is 
yet a woman of considerable activity. She has made many 
pairs of socks, slippers and mittens for sale since her 8oth 
year. She has done much fine needle work, in which she has 
few equals and no superiors. These tasks she does without 
the help of glasses. She gets out on the street shopping, to 
church, to the public grounds and to see her old friends and 
neighbors several times a week. She has a strong and clear 
memory of past events and people, which and whom she freely 
recalls in ordinary conversation. She does not care much 
for new people, and once in a while resents their intrusion in 
plain words and striking manner. Not long ago a nice look- 
ing, white-haired woman of about seventy years, called upon 
her, introducing herself pleasantly, saying she had heard much 
of Mrs. Maynard, wanted to know her, and had taken the 
liberty of coming. Being hard of hearing, it is possible Mrs. 
Maynard did not fully understand her, as she said to her visi- 
tor: "I do not feel like talking, and I may as well tell you 
that if you insist upon talking to me every word I say in reply 
will cost you 25 cents, and it will take a short time only to 
run up a charge against you of $25." The visiting lady did 
not care for conversation under such circumstances, and her 
first call was not only a short one but was also her last. The 
pioneers of the State, of course, are all interested in Mrs. 
Maynard, and she in them. Every annual meeting of the 
association finds her present. She is a veteran among them. 
No other member of the organization can equal her in the 
three claims of fifty-six years residence in the State, seventy- 
four years since her marriage, and ninety years of life. At 
the annual renuions the newspaper reporters and photogra- 
phers are eager to get something from her. That she may 
continue to dwell among them happily and usefully for many ' 
years yet to come, is the sincere wish of her numerous friends 
in the great city which she helped to found and build and 
sustain, as partially narrated in these few pages. 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard 81 




Postscript — November, 1906. 

jINCE the foregoing was written and published (in 
June and July last), the end has come. Mrs. May- 
nard is no more. October 15th, in good spirits and in 
good condition, considering her age and physical weaknesses, 
she was out several hours, visiting neighbors and attending 
to personal affairs, among other things looking for a house 
upon the Maynard land claim within which to make her home. 
The weather was not pleasant. The wind blew, the rain fell, 
the temperature was low. With the dauntless spirit that pos- 
sessed her, and with that determination for which she was 
noted, she kept on, regardless of her individual comfort and 
of the danger to which she was exposing her frail health. She 
went too far. She was out too long. She overtaxed herself. 
When she returned to the little house, at 1223 Cherry street, 
her strength was spent and she was able to do no more. The 
next morning she arose as usual, tottered around a few min- 
utes, and fell to the floor in a condition of collapse, uncon- 
sciousness and paralysis being combined. Nearly four days 
she lingered, in a condition of coma, the physician, the nurse, 
the housekeeper, the friends being unable to do for her more 
than to make her comfortable. Just before her departure for 
the spirit land, and while apparently fully aware of her ap- 
proaching dissolution, she emerged from unconsciousness long 
enough to say to Mrs. Hill, who for two years had been living 
with her: "Farewell; a last farewell." Shortly after, with 
the going down of the sun, on Saturday evening, Oct. 20th, 
1906, she passed away. Her age was 90 years, 3 months, 1 day. 

The newspapers — the Times and the Post-Intelligencer — 
next morning had much to say about her. Each of these great 
journals had two columns concerning this remarkable, this 
historic woman. Of none of the pioneers of the past was more 
said, or better. Their articles were illustrated with her por- 
trait. They honored her memory in a manner quite gratifying 



82 The Life of Catherine T Maynard 

to her acquaintances and friends. So they also treated the cer- 
emonies connected with the final laying away of her remains. 

On the 23d was the funeral. After a short service at the 
house in which she had so long dwelt, conducted by the Rev. 
A. L. Chapman, pastor of the church to which she belonged, 
the procession of carriages and people proceeded to the First 
Christian church, on Broadway and East Olive streets,, where 
was gathered one of the largest assemblages of people ever 
seen in Seattle on such an occasion. Among the number were 
many of Seattle's oldest and most venerable citizens, such as 
John Wilson, J. R. Williamson, Edgar Bryan, Theodore O. 
Williams, F. M. Guye, Samuel Jackson, Mrs. Bagley, Mrs. 
Boardman, Mrs. Meydenbauer, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Venen, 
Mrs. McLain, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Dyer, Mrs. Shorey, Mrs. 
Randolph, Mrs. McElroy, John M, Lyon and wife, Walter 
Graham and wife, David Graham and wife, George F. Frye 
and wife, and Charles Prosch and .wife. Rev. George F. Whit- 
worth, President of the Washington Pioneer Association, 
himself, like Mrs. Maynard, in his 91st year, assisted the pas- 
tor. He spoke most feelingly of his late friend, whom he had 
known for half a century, and dwelt particularly upon her 
services to the people of this city during the Indian war of 
i855~'56. Coming from such a source, and spoken with such 
earnestness and sincerity, the words of Mr. Whitworth were 
impressive indeed. Rev. B. H. Lingenfelter, who had minis- 
tered to Mrs. Maynard several years before the coming of Mr. 
Chapman, told of her religious life. Mrs. Maynard joined the 
Baptist church in 1834. In 1847 she transferred her religious 
allegiance to the Christian church. This denomination being 
unrepresented in Seattle until a comparatively recent date, 
she had temporarily associated with the Congregationalists. 
She had been wonderfully faithful to her church, attending its 
services whenever she was physically able so to do, seldom 
failing, and being one of the regular contributors to its sup- 
port. No one in the congregation was better known, none 
more respected, and none would be more missed. 

The services at the grave were brief and fitting. Under a 
canopy, they were conducted by Messrs. Chapman and Lin- 



The Life of Catherine T. Maynard 83 

genfelter. The body was laid beside that of her husband, 
Doctor David S. Maynard, in Lakeview cemetery. A wealth 
of beautiful flowers covered the grave, contributed by those 
who had known her long and well. One of the finest floral 
offerings was from the King County Medical Society, which 
took this method of publicly recognizing the fact that she 
was the widow of Seattle's first physician, and further, that 
she herself was the first woman here to engage in hospital 
work. Another like graceful acknowledgment was from the 
Young Men's Christian Association, in token of her work 
thirty years before that led to the organization of the society, 
now so strong, so benevolent, so useful and helpful as theirs. 
Others who sent flowers were Mrs. Ursula Wyckoff, Mrs. S. 
J. Plummer, Mrs. G. O. Haller, Mrs. A. A. Denny, Mrs. P. 
Paulson, Mrs. M. E. Shorey, Mrs. T. W. Prosch, Mrs. G. 
Kellogg, Mrs. E. W. McGinness, Mrs. A. Mackintosh, Mrs. 
I. C. Parker, Mrs. R. B. Jones, Mrs. Quackenbush, and Mrs. 
Moore. Six pioneers were the pall-bearers, namely: Isaac 
C. Parker, Lyman W. Bonney, Clarence B. Bagley, F. H. 
Whitworth, S. P. Randolph and Leander Miller. 

And thus, surrounded by friends who evidenced in every 
way their respect and regard, was laid to rest all that was 
mortal of one of the first women of this country, one who had 
lived long beyond the ordinary allotted time, one who had seen 
much of change and progress, and who had figured prom- 
inently in times and events that meant much to this commu- 
nity, and that will insure her memory among those who here 
projected and established what has become the State of Wash- 
ington. 



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